By　rational　ligand　desymmetrization　and　functionalization,　a　new　angular　ditopic　carboxylate　ligand　with　a　bulky　uncoordinated　nitrophenyl　group,　5　＇-(4-nitrophenyl)-[1,1　＇:3　＇,1　＇＇-terphenyl]-4,4　＇＇-dicarboxylic　acid　(H2NTDC),　has　been　designed　and　synthesized.　The　smart　H2NTDC　ligand　was　employed　to　construct　a　novel　metal-organic　framework　(MOF)　[Cu(NTDC)(H2O)]　(BUT-241,　BUT　=　Beijing　University　of　Technology)　with　the　typical　Cu-paddle-wheel　SBU.　Owing　to　the　distinct　geometry　and　functionality　of　the　H2NTDC　ligand,　the　2-D　(two　dimensional)　sql　nets　are　packed　via　various　pi　-　pi　interactions.　Therefore,　the　resulting　structure　of　BUT-241　differs　from　other　MOFs　built　with　similar　ligands.　Through　ligand　engineering,　the　construction　of　BUT-241　has　enriched　the　family　of　MOFs　based　on　the　classic　ditopic　carboxylate　ligands.　In　addition,　the　nitrophenyl-functionalization　also　has　an　effect　on　the　overall　structure　and　pore　chemistry　of　BUT-241,　and　thus　facilitates　its　gas　adsorption　capacity.