Halogen–C2H2 Binding in Ultramicroporous Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for Benchmark C2H2/CO2 Separation Selectivity

Acetylene (C₂H₂) capture is a step in a number of industrial processes, but it comes with a high-energy footprint. Although physisorbents have the potential to reduce this energy footprint, they are handicapped by generally poor selectivity versus other relevant gases, such as CO₂ and C₂H₄. In the case of CO₂, the respective physicochemical properties are so similar that traditional physisorbents, such as zeolites, silica, and activated carbons cannot differentiate well between CO₂ and C₂H₂. Herein, we report that a family of three isostructural, ultramicroporous (<7 Å) diamondoid metal–organic frameworks, [Cu(TMBP)X] (TMBP=3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-4,4′-bipyrazole), TCuX (X=Cl, Br, I), offer new benchmark C₂H₂/CO₂ separation selectivity at ambient temperature and pressure. We attribute this performance to a new type of strong binding site for C₂H₂. Specifically, halogen ⋅⋅⋅ HC interactions coupled with other noncovalent in a tight binding site is C₂H₂ specific versus CO₂. The binding site is distinct from those found in previous benchmark sorbents, which are based on open metal sites or electrostatic interactions enabled by inorganic fluoro or oxo anions.     

Ultramicropore Engineering by Dehydration to Enable Molecular Sieving of H2 by Calcium Trimesate

The high energy footprint of commodity gas purification and increasing demand for gases require new approaches to gas separation. Kinetic separation of gas mixtures through molecular sieving can enable separation by molecular size or shape exclusion. Physisorbents must exhibit the right pore diameter to enable separation, but the 0.3–0.4 nm range relevant to small gas molecules is hard to control. Herein, dehydration of the ultramicroporous metal–organic framework Ca‐trimesate, Ca(HBTC)?H₂O (H₃BTC=trimesic acid), bnn‐1‐Ca‐H₂O, affords a narrow pore variant, Ca(HBTC), bnn‐1‐Ca. Whereas bnn‐1‐Ca‐H₂O (pore diameter 0.34 nm) exhibits ultra‐high CO₂/N₂, CO₂/CH₄, and C₂H₂/C₂H₄ binary selectivity, bnn‐1‐Ca (pore diameter 0.31 nm) offers ideal selectivity for H₂/CO₂ and H₂/N₂ under cryogenic conditions. Ca‐trimesate, the first physisorbent to exhibit H₂ sieving under cryogenic conditions, could be a prototype for a general approach to exert precise control over pore diameter in physisorbents.     

Direct Air Capture of CO2 by Physisorbent Materials

Sequestration of CO₂, either from gas mixtures or directly from air (direct air capture, DAC), could mitigate carbon emissions. Here five materials are investigated for their ability to adsorb CO₂ directly from air and other gas mixtures. The sorbents studied are benchmark materials that encompass four types of porous material, one chemisorbent, TEPA‐SBA‐15 (amine‐modified mesoporous silica) and four physisorbents: Zeolite 13X (inorganic); HKUST‐1 and Mg‐MOF‐74/Mg‐dobdc (metal–organic frameworks, MOFs); SIFSIX‐3‐Ni , (hybrid ultramicroporous material). Temperature‐programmed desorption (TPD) experiments afforded information about the contents of each sorbent under equilibrium conditions and their ease of recycling. Accelerated stability tests addressed projected shelf‐life of the five sorbents. The four physisorbents were found to be capable of carbon capture from CO₂‐rich gas mixtures, but competition and reaction with atmospheric moisture significantly reduced their DAC performance.     

Extraordinary Separation of Acetylene‐Containing Mixtures with Microporous Metal–Organic Frameworks with Open O Donor Sites and Tunable Robustness through Control of the Helical Chain Secondary Building Units

Acetylene separation is a very important but challenging industrial separation task. Here, through the solvothermal reaction of CuI and 5‐triazole isophthalic acid in different solvents, two metal–organic frameworks (MOFs, FJU‐21 and FJU‐22 ) with open O donor sites and controllable robustness have been obtained for acetylene separation. They contain the same paddle‐wheel {Cu₂(COO₂)₄} nodes and metal–ligand connection modes, but with different helical chains as secondary building units (SBUs), leading to different structural robustness for the MOFs. FJU‐21 and FJU‐22 are the first examples in which the MOFs’ robustness is controlled by adjusting the helical chain SBUs. Good robustness gives the activated FJU‐22 a , which has higher surface area and gas uptakes than the flexible FJU‐21 a . Importantly, FJU‐22 a shows extraordinary separation of acetylene mixtures under ambient conditions. The separation capacity of FJU‐22 a for 50:50 C₂H₂/CO₂ mixtures is about twice that of the high‐capacity HOF‐3, and its actual separation selectivity for C₂H₂/C₂H₄ mixtures containing 1 % acetylene is the highest among reported porous materials. Based on first‐principles calculations, the extraordinary separation performance of C₂H₂ for FJU‐22 a was attributed to hydrogen‐bonding interactions between the C₂H₂ molecules with the open O donors on the wall, which provide better recognition ability for C₂H₂ than other functional sites, including open metal sites and amino groups.     

Microporous Magnesium and Manganese Formates for Acetylene Storage and Separation

Acetylene sorption of microporous metal formates M(HCOO)₂ (M=Mg and Mn) was investigated. Measurements of acetylene sorption at 196, 275, and 298 K showed a Type I isotherm with quick saturation at low pressures, and 50–75 cm³ g^?1 uptake at 1.0 atm. The single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis of the acetylene‐adsorbed metal formates revealed that acetylene molecules occupy two independent positions in the zigzag channels of the frameworks with a stoichiometry of M(HCOO)₂?1/3C₂H₂, which is consistent with the gas sorption experiments. No specific interaction except van der Waals interactions between the adsorbed acetylene molecules and the walls of the frameworks was found. Sorption properties of other gases, including CO₂, CH₄, N₂, O₂, and H₂, were also investigated. When the temperature was increased to 298 K, the amount of adsorbed acetylene was still above 60 cm³ g^?1 for Mg(HCOO)₂ and 50 cm³ g^?1 for Mn(HCOO)₂, whereas the uptake of other gases decreased substantially. The microporous metal formates may thus be useful not only for the storage of acetylene but also its separation from other gases at room or slightly higher temperatures.     

Mixed Metal–Organic Framework with Multiple Binding Sites for Efficient C2H2/CO2 Separation

The separation of C₂H₂/CO₂ is particularly challenging owing to their similarities in physical properties and molecular sizes. Reported here is a mixed metal–organic framework (M′MOF), [Fe(pyz)Ni(CN)₄] ( FeNi‐M′MOF , pyz=pyrazine), with multiple functional sites and compact one‐dimensional channels of about 4.0 Å for C₂H₂/CO₂ separation. This MOF shows not only a remarkable volumetric C₂H₂ uptake of 133 cm³ cm^?3, but also an excellent C₂H₂/CO₂ selectivity of 24 under ambient conditions, resulting in the second highest C₂H₂‐capture amount of 4.54 mol L^?1, thus outperforming most previous benchmark materials. The separation performance of this material is driven by π–π stacking and multiple intermolecular interactions between C₂H₂ molecules and the binding sites of FeNi‐M′MOF . This material can be facilely synthesized at room temperature and is water stable, highlighting FeNi‐M′MOF as a promising material for C₂H₂/CO₂ separation.     

A Microporous Metal‐Organic Framework Supramolecularly Assembled from a CuII Dodecaborate Cluster Complex for Selective Gas Separation

A novel 3D metal‐organic framework BSF‐1 based on the closo‐dodecaborate cluster [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? was readily prepared at room temperature by supramolecular assembly of CuB₁₂H₁₂ and 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)acetylene. The permanent microporous structure was studied by X‐ray crystallography, powder X‐ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and gas sorption. The experimental and theoretical study of the gas sorption behavior of BSF‐1 for N₂, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, CO₂, C₃H₈, C₂H₆, and CH₄ indicated excellent separation selectivities for C₃H₈/CH₄, C₂H₆/CH₄, and C₂H₂/CH₄ as well as moderately high separation selectivities for C₂H₂/C₂H₄, C₂H₂/CO₂, and CO₂/CH₄. Moreover, the practical separation performance of C₃H₈/CH₄ and C₂H₆/CH₄ was confirmed by dynamic breakthrough experiments. The good cyclability and high water/thermal stability render it suitable for real industrial applications.     

Construction of Negative Electrostatic Pore Environments in a Scalable,Stable and Low-Cost Metal-organic Framework for One-Step Ethylene Purification from Ternary Mixtures

One-step separation of C₂H₄ from ternary C₂ mixtures by physisorbents remains a challenge to combine excellent separation performance with high stability, low cost, and easy scalability for industrial applications. Herein, we report a strategy of constructing negative electrostatic pore environments in a stable, low-cost, and easily scaled-up aluminum MOF (MOF-303) for efficient one-step C₂H₂/C₂H₆/C₂H₄ separation. This material exhibits not only record high C₂H₂ and C₂H₆ uptakes, but also top-tier C₂H₂/C₂H₄ and C₂H₆/C₂H₄ selectivities at ambient conditions. Theoretical calculations combined with in situ infrared spectroscopy indicate that multiple N/O sites on pore channels can build a negative electro-environment to provide stronger interactions with C₂H₂ and C₂H₆ over C₂H₄. Breakthrough experiments confirm its exceptional separation performance for ternary mixtures, affording one of the highest C₂H₄ productivity of 1.35 mmol g⁻¹. This material is highly stable and can be easily synthesized at kilogram-scale from cheap raw materials using a water-based green synthesis. The benchmark combination of excellent separation properties with high stability and low cost in scalable MOF-303 has unlocked its great potential in this challenging industrial separation.     

Rational Design of Microporous MOFs with Anionic Boron Cluster Functionality and Cooperative Dihydrogen Binding Sites for Highly Selective Capture of Acetylene

Separation of acetylene (C₂H₂) from carbon dioxide (CO₂) or ethylene (C₂H₄) is important in industry but limited by the low capacity and selectivity owing to their similar molecular sizes and physical properties. Herein, we report two novel dodecaborate‐hybrid metal–organic frameworks, MB₁₂H₁₂(dpb)₂ (termed as BSF‐3 and BSF‐3‐Co for M=Cu and Co), for highly selective capture of C₂H₂. The high C₂H₂ capacity and remarkable C₂H₂/CO₂ selectivity resulted from the unique anionic boron cluster functionality as well as the suitable pore size with cooperative proton‐hydride dihydrogen bonding sites (B?H^δ????H^δ+?C≡C?H^δ+???H^δ??B). This new type of C₂H₂‐specific functional sites represents a fresh paradigm distinct from those in previous leading materials based on open metal sites, strong electrostatics, or hydrogen bonding.     

Towards Structural‐Functional Mimics of Acetylene Hydratase: Reversible Activation of Acetylene using a Biomimetic Tungsten Complex

The synthesis and characterization of a biomimetic system that can reversibly bind acetylene (ethyne) is reported. The system has been designed to mimic catalytic intermediates of the tungstoenzyme acetylene hydratase. The thiophenyloxazoline ligand S‐Phoz (2‐(4′,4′‐dimethyloxazolin‐2′‐yl)thiophenolate) is used to generate a bioinspired donor environment around the W center, facilitating the stabilization of W–acetylene adducts. The featured complexes [W(C₂H₂)(CO)(S‐Phoz)₂] ( 2 ) and [WO(C₂H₂)(S‐Phoz)₂] ( 3 ) are extremely rare from a synthetic and structural point of view as very little is known about W–C₂H₂ adducts. Upon exposure to visible light, 3 can release C₂H₂ from its coordination sphere to yield the 14‐electron species [WO(S‐Phoz)₂] ( 4 ). Under light‐exclusion 4 re‐activates C₂H₂ making this the first fully characterized system for the reversible activation of acetylene.     

Topological Design of Unprecedented Metal-Organic Frameworks Featuring Multiple Anion Functionalities and Hierarchical Porosity for Benchmark Acetylene Separation

Separation of acetylene (C₂H₂) from carbon dioxide (CO₂) or ethylene (C₂H₄) is industrially important but still challenging so far. Herein, we developed two novel robust metal organic frameworks AlFSIX-Cu-TPBDA (ZNU-8) with znv topology and SIFSIX-Cu-TPBDA (ZNU-9) with wly topology for efficient capture of C₂H₂ from CO₂ and C₂H₄. Both ZNU-8 and ZNU-9 feature multiple anion functionalities and hierarchical porosity. Notably, ZNU-9 with more anionic binding sites and three distinct cages displays both an extremely large C₂H₂ capacity (7.94 mmol/g) and a high C₂H₂/CO₂ (10.3) or C₂H₂/C₂H₄ (11.6) selectivity. The calculated capacity of C₂H₂ per anion (4.94 mol/mol at 1 bar) is the highest among all the anion pillared metal organic frameworks. Theoretical calculation indicated that the strong cooperative hydrogen bonds exist between acetylene and the pillared SiF₆²⁻ anions in the confined cavity, which is further confirmed by in situ IR spectra. The practical separation performance was explicitly demonstrated by dynamic breakthrough experiments with equimolar C₂H₂/CO₂ mixtures and 1/99 C₂H₂/C₂H₄ mixtures under various conditions with excellent recyclability and benchmark productivity of pure C₂H₂ (5.13 mmol/g) or C₂H₄ (48.57 mmol/g).     

Influence of ortho‐substituents on the synthesis and properties of poly(phenylacetylene)s

The phenylacetylene derivatives (4‐decyloxyphenyl)acetylene ( M1 ), (4‐decyloxy‐2‐methylphenyl)acetylene ( M2 ), and (4‐decyloxy‐2,6‐dimethylphenyl)acetylene ( M3 ) were polymerized by the well‐defined Schrock‐type initiator Mo[N‐2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃)(CHCMe₂Ph)[OCMe(CF₃)₂]₂ ( I1 ) and by the ill‐defined quaternary system MoOCl₄–n‐Bu₄Sn–EtOH–quinuclidine (1:1:2:1) ( I2 ). Comparison of the compatibility of the initiators with the different monomers revealed a correlation of the size of the ortho‐substituents and the polymerizability of the monomers. M1 and M2 readily polymerized employing I1 , but conversion of the sterically demanding monomer M3 remained incomplete. However, the use of I2 led to high monomer conversions and polymer yields only in case of M2 and M3 . The steric bulkiness of the ortho‐substituents also decisively affected the maximum effective conjugation length (N_eff) of the polymers and hence their absorption maximum (λ_max) as well as their solution stability as shown by UV–vis and GPC studies, respectively. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4466–4477, 2004     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">AB initio</Emphasis> quantum chemical study of the reaction mechanism of ethynide ion formation in the C<Subscript>2</Subscript>H<Subscript>2</Subscript>/MOH/DMSO system (M = Li,Na, K)

The reaction mechanism of the formation of alkali metal ethynides C₂H₂ + MOH → C₂HM + H₂O (M = Li, Na, K) is studied for the gas phase (MP2/6-311++G**//RHF/6-31+G*) and also with regard to the solvent effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) included within the continuum model. Among all acetylene complexes with alkali metal hydroxides considered (C₂H₂·MOH (M = Li, Na, K)), only the complex with KOH is thermodynamically stable in DMSO solution. The formation of this structure results in activation of the acetylene molecule towards electrophilic attack. The formation of alkali metal ethynide in solution is also thermodynamically favorable only in the system with potassium hydroxide of a whole series of metals considered. Further, the ethynide ion can interact in KCCK·HOH systems.     

Structural, electronic, and vibrational properties of acetylene on Pd(100) doped with Sn or Pb: A DFT cluster model study

Some structural, electronic, and vibrational properties of the acetylene (C₂H₂) molecule adsorbed at various sites on the Pd(100) surface doped with Sn or Pb are determined theoretically. The calculations were performed using the B3LYP hybrid density functional, and the Sn- or Pb-doped Pd(100) surfaces were represented by a cluster model approach. It is found that the geometry of the C₂H₂ molecule adsorbed in di- σ configurations is highly perturbed with respect to the structure of acetylene in the gas phase. By contrast, the geometry of acetylene adsorbed in π configurations on the doped surfaces shows a much smaller distortion. Apart from calculating the properties of the adsorbed C₂H₂ molecule, the effect of the dopants, i.e. Sn and Pb atoms, on these properties is established by comparing the properties of acetylene adsorbed on the Sn- or Pb-doped Pd(100) surfaces with its properties on the monometallic Pd(100) surface. The results indicate that the geometry of the adsorbed C₂H₂ molecule is similar on the doped and monometallic Pd(100) surfaces.     

Adsorption Mechanism of Acetylene Hydrogenation

First‐principles calculations are carried out to examine the adsorption of acetylene over the Pd (111) surface. A hydrogen adsorption system is initially investigated to confirm the reliability of the selected calculation method. Adsorption energies, Mulliken‐populations, overlap populations, charge density, and projected density of states (PDOS) are then calculated in the optimised acetylene adsorption system. Results show that C₂H₂ molecule tends to adsorb through the threefold parallel‐bridge configuration that is computed to be the most stable. In this structure, the distance of the C? H bond is calculated to be 1.09 Å, and the C‐C‐H bond angle is 128°. The distance of the C? C bond in acetylene is 1.36 Å, increasing from 1.21 Å in the gas phase. Moreover, the C? C bond overlap population decreases from 1.98 to 1.38, revealing that the carbon configuration in C₂H₂ rehybridises from sp to sp² and beyond. The obtained results are compared with available experimental studies on acetylene hydrogenation on single‐metal surfaces. The PDOS study indicates that a carbonaceous layer may generate on the metal surface during acetylene adsorption. The carbonaceous layer can affect the adsorption and reaction of acetylene, thereby inactivating the metal surface. Our experiments also show that Pd exhibits high catalytic activity.     

Tailoring the pore chemistry in porous aromatic frameworks for selective separation of acetylene from ethylene

The separation of acetylene from ethylene is a crucial process in the petrochemical industry, because even traces of acetylene impurities can poison the catalysts of ethylene polymerization. Herein, we synthesize a new family of 3D porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs), non-functionalized PAF-28, carbene-functionalized PAF-28 (cPAF-28) and imidazolium-functionalized PAF-28 (iPAF-28), via Sonogashira coupling reactions. These PAFs show high porosity and good thermal stability. Both cPAF-28 and iPAF-28 are proved to be good candidates for C₂H₂ adsorption, demonstrated by C₂H₂/C₂H₄ selectivity of 12.2 and 15.4, and C₂H₂ capacity of 48 cm³ g⁻¹ and 57 cm³ g⁻¹, which are significantly higher than those of non-functionalized PAF-28 (1.8, 37 cm³ g⁻¹). Furthermore, the cPAF-28 and iPAF-28 display good breakthrough performance and remarkable recyclability for the separation of the C₂H₂/C₂H₄ gas mixture. In addition, the C₂H₂/C₂H₄ adsorption sites are revealed by DFT calculations. This work sheds a new light on gas molecular recognition by tailoring the pore chemistry of PAFs.

A family of PAFs with 3D topology was developed through tailoring the pore structures. By anchoring carbene or imidazolium groups in PAF-28, the selectivity for separating acetylene from ethylene was greatly boosted from 1.8 to 15.4.     

Unexpected Chemistry from the Reaction of Naphthyl and Acetylene at Combustion‐Like Temperatures

The hydrogen abstraction/acetylene addition (HACA) mechanism has long been viewed as a key route to aromatic ring growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in combustion systems. However, doubt has been drawn on the ubiquity of the mechanism by recent electronic structure calculations which predict that the HACA mechanism starting from the naphthyl radical preferentially forms acenaphthylene, thereby blocking cyclization to a third six‐membered ring. Here, by probing the products formed in the reaction of 1‐ and 2‐naphthyl radicals in excess acetylene under combustion‐like conditions with the help of photoionization mass spectrometry, we provide experimental evidence that this reaction produces 1‐ and 2‐ethynylnaphthalenes (C₁₂H₈), acenaphthylene (C₁₂H₈) and diethynylnaphthalenes (C₁₄H₈). Importantly, neither phenanthrene nor anthracene (C₁₄H₁₀) was found, which indicates that the HACA mechanism does not lead to cyclization of the third aromatic ring as expected but rather undergoes ethynyl substitution reactions instead.     

Reactivity of the Indenyl Radical (C9H7) with Acetylene (C2H2) and Vinylacetylene (C4H4)

The reactions of the indenyl radicals with acetylene (C₂H₂) and vinylacetylene (C₄H₄) is studied in a hot chemical reactor coupled to synchrotron based vacuum ultraviolet ionization mass spectrometry. These experimental results are combined with theory to reveal that the resonantly stabilized and thermodynamically most stable 1-indenyl radical (C₉H₇^.) is always formed in the pyrolysis of 1-, 2-, 6-, and 7-bromoindenes at 1500 K. The 1-indenyl radical reacts with acetylene yielding 1-ethynylindene plus atomic hydrogen, rather than adding a second acetylene molecule and leading to ring closure and formation of fluorene as observed in other reaction mechanisms such as the hydrogen abstraction acetylene addition or hydrogen abstraction vinylacetylene addition pathways. While this reaction mechanism is analogous to the bimolecular reaction between the phenyl radical (C₆H₅^.) and acetylene forming phenylacetylene (C₆H₅CCH), the 1-indenyl+acetylene→1-ethynylindene+hydrogen reaction is highly endoergic (114 kJ mol⁻¹) and slow, contrary to the exoergic (−38 kJ mol⁻¹) and faster phenyl+acetylene→phenylacetylene+hydrogen reaction. In a similar manner, no ring closure leading to fluorene formation was observed in the reaction of 1-indenyl radical with vinylacetylene. These experimental results are explained through rate constant calculations based on theoretically derived potential energy surfaces.     

A Series of Mesoporous Metal-Organic Frameworks with Tunable Windows Sizes and Exceptionally High Ethane over Ethylene Adsorption Selectivity

The NIIC-20 (NIIC stands for Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry) is a family of five isostructural metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on dodecanuclear wheel-shaped carboxylate building blocks {Zn₁₂(RCOO)₁₂(glycol)₆} (glycol is deprotonated diatomic alcohol: ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,2-pentanediol or glycerol), quantitatively crystallized from readily available starting chemicals. The crystal structures contain large mesoporous cages of 25 Å connected through {Zn₁₂} rings, of which inner diameter and chemical nature depend solely on the chosen glycol. The NIIC-20 compounds feature high surface area and rarely observed inversed adsorption affinity for saturated hydrocarbon (ethane) over the unsaturated ones (ethylene, acetylene). The corresponding IAST (Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory) adsorption selectivity factors reach as much as 15.4 for C₂H₆/C₂H₄ and 10.9 for C₂H₆/C₂H₂ gas mixtures at ambient conditions, exceeding those for any other porous MOF reported so far. The remarkable combination of high adsorption uptakes and high adsorption selectivities makes the NIIC-20 series a new benchmark of porous materials designed for ethylene separation applications.     

Adsorptive Separation of Acetylene from Ethylene in Isostructural Gallate-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks

The separation of acetylene from ethylene is of paramount importance in the purification of chemical feedstocks for industrial manufacturing. Herein, an isostructural series of gallate-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), M-gallate (M=Ni, Mg, Co), featuring three-dimensionally interconnected zigzag channels, the aperture size of which can be finely tuned within 0.3 Å by metal replacement. Controlling the aperture size of M-gallate materials slightly from 3.69 down to 3.47 Å could result in a dramatic enhancement of C₂H₂/C₂H₄ separation performance. As the smallest radius among the studied metal ions, Ni-gallate exhibits the best C₂H₂/C₂H₄ adsorption separation performance owing to the strongest confinement effect, ranking after the state-of-the-art UTSA-200a with a C₂H₄ productivity of 85.6 mol L⁻¹ from 1:99 C₂H₂/C₂H₄ mixture. The isostructural gallate-based MOFs, readily synthesized from inexpensive gallic acid, are demonstrated to be a new top-performing porous material for highly efficient adsorption of C₂H₂ from C₂H₄.