A tritopic carboxylate ligand, tris(4'-carboxybiphenyl)amine (L-H-3), has been synthesized and applied in the construction of microporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Two novel metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), {[Zn-2(L)(OH)]center dot 2DMF center dot H2O}(infinity) (1) and {[Cu(L-H)(DMA)]center dot DMA center dot 2H(2)O}(infinity) (2), have been constructed out of L-H-3, Zn2+, and Cu2+, respectively. 1 has a 2-fold interpenetrating three-dimensional framework formed by L connectors and the [Zn-2(CO2)(3)] secondary building units (SBUs). As for 1, it is worth pointing out that one mu(2)-OH group links two Zn atoms between two neighboring SBUs to produce interesting Zn-O-Zn zigzag chains in the structure. 2 has a two-dimensional grid sheet formed by L-H connectors and the typical paddle-wheel [Cu-2(CO2)(4)] SBUs. Two-dimensional (2D) sheets nest with each other, which finally forms a three-dimensional (3D) nested framework. Two MOFs are characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, single-crystal and elemental analyses, and powder X-ray diffraction methods. Framework 1' exhibits high permanent porosity (Langmuir surface area = 848 m(2)/g), high thermal stability (up to 450 degrees C), highly active properties for Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction, as well as the potential application for the CO2 gas storage and luminescent material. The catalytic results reveal that 2' is indeed an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for olefin epoxidation reactions.