Highly Productive C₃H₄/C₃H₆ Trace Separation by a Packing Polymorph of a Layered Hybrid Ultramicroporous Material

Ultramicroporous materials can be highly effective at trace gas separations when they offer a high density of selective binding sites. Herein, we report that sql-NbOFFIVE-bpe-Cu, a new variant of a previously reported ultramicroporous square lattice, sql, topology material, sql-SIFSIX-bpe-Zn, can exist in two polymorphs. These polymorphs, sql-NbOFFIVE-bpe-Cu-AA (AA) and sql-NbOFFIVE-bpe-Cu-AB (AB), exhibit AAAA and ABAB packing of the sql layers, respectively. Whereas NbOFFIVE-bpe-Cu-AA (AA) is isostructural with sql-SIFSIX-bpe-Zn, each exhibiting intrinsic 1D channels, sql-NbOFFIVE-bpe-Cu-AB (AB) has two types of channels, the intrinsic channels and extrinsic channels between the sql networks. Gas and temperature induced transformations of the two polymorphs of sql-NbOFFIVE-bpe-Cu were investigated by pure gas sorption, single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction (VT-PXRD), and synchrotron PXRD. We observed that the extrinsic pore structure of AB resulted in properties with potential for selective C3H4/C3H6 separation. Subsequent dynamic gas breakthrough measurements revealed exceptional experimental C3H4/C3H6 selectivity (270) and a new benchmark for productivity (118 mmol g-1) of polymer grade C3H6 (purity &gt;99.99%) from a 1:99 C3H4/C3H6 mixture. Structural analysis, gas sorption studies, and gas adsorption kinetics enabled us to determine that a binding "sweet spot"for C3H4 in the extrinsic pores is behind the benchmark separation performance. Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations and Canonical Monte Carlo (CMC) simulations provided further insight into the binding sites of C3H4 and C3H6 molecules within these two hybrid ultramicroporous materials, HUMs. These results highlight, to our knowledge for the first time, how pore engineering through the study of packing polymorphism in layered materials can dramatically change the separation performance of a physisorbent.</p

Consecutive single-crystal-to-single-crystal isomerization of novel octamolybdate anions within a microporous hybrid framework with robust water sorption properties

The 3D hybrid framework [{Cu(cyclam)}3(kMo8O27)]· 14H2O (1) (cyclam=1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) undergoes sequential single-crystal-to-singlecrystal transformations upon heating to afford two different anhydrous phases (2 a and 3a). These transitions modify the framework dimensionality and enable the isomerization of k-octamolybdate (k-Mo8) anions into λ (2 a) and μ (3 a) forms through metal migration. Hydration of 3 a involves condensation of one water molecule to the cluster to afford the γ-Mo8 isomer in 4, which dehydrates back into 3a through the 6a intermediate. In contrast, 2a reversibly hydrates to form 5, exhibiting the same Mo8 cluster as that of 1. It is remarkable that three of the Mo8 clusters (k, λ and μ) are new and that up to three different microporous phases can be isolated from 1 (2 a, 3a, and 6a). Water vapor sorption analyses show high recyclability and the highest uptake values for POM-based systems. The isotherms display an abrupt step at low humidity level desirable for humidity control devices or water harvesting in drylands.Funded by Eusko Jaurlaritza/Gobierno Vasco (EJ/GV, grants IT1722-22 and KK-2022/00045). E.R.B. thanks EJ/GV for her doctoral fellowship (PRE_2018_1_0143)

Benchmark Acetylene Binding Affinity and Separation through Induced Fit in a Flexible Hybrid Ultramicroporous Material

Structural changes at the active site of an enzyme induced by binding to a substrate molecule can result in enhanced activity in biological systems. Herein, we report that the new hybrid ultramicroporous material sql-SIFSIX-bpe-Zn exhibits an induced fit binding mechanism when exposed to acetylene, C₂H₂. The resulting phase change affords exceptionally strong C₂H₂ binding that in turn enables highly selective C₂H₂/C₂H₄ and C₂H₂/CO₂ separation demonstrated by dynamic breakthrough experiments. sql-SIFSIX-bpe-Zn was observed to exhibit at least four phases: as-synthesised (α); activated (β); and C₂H₂ induced phases (β' and γ). sql-SIFSIX-bpe-Zn-β exhibited strong affinity for C₂H₂ at ambient conditions as demonstrated by benchmark isosteric heat of adsorption (Qst ) of 67.5 kJ mol⁻¹ validated through in situ pressure gradient differential scanning calorimetry (PG-DSC). Further, in situ characterisation and DFT calculations provide insight into the mechanism of the C₂H₂ induced fit transformation, binding positions and the nature of host-guest and guest-guest interactions

Trace CO2 capture by an ultramicroporous physisorbent with low water affinity.

CO2 accumulation in confined spaces represents an increasing environmental and health problem. Trace CO2 capture remains an unmet challenge because human health risks can occur at 1000 parts per million (ppm), a level that challenges current generations of chemisorbents (high energy footprint and slow kinetics) and physisorbents (poor selectivity for CO2, especially versus water vapor, and/or poor hydrolytic stability). Here, dynamic breakthrough gas experiments conducted upon the ultramicroporous material SIFSIX-18-Ni-β reveal trace (1000 to 10,000 ppm) CO2 removal from humid air. We attribute the performance of SIFSIX-18-Ni-β to two factors that are usually mutually exclusive: a new type of strong CO2 binding site and hydrophobicity similar to ZIF-8. SIFSIX-18-Ni-β also offers fast sorption kinetics to enable selective capture of CO2 over both N2 (S CN) and H2O (S CW), making it prototypal for a previously unknown class of physisorbents that exhibit effective trace CO2 capture under both dry and humid conditions

Spectral sensitive phonon wipeout due to a fluctuating spin state in a Fe2+ coordination polymer

Raman scattering in the spin-crossover system [Fe(pmd)(H2O){Au(CN)2}2]*H2O reveals a complex three-phase spin-state transition in contrast to earlier observations in magnetization measurements. We observe different spin state phases as function of temperature and electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectral range. There exists a fluctuating spin state phase with an unexpected wipeout of the low frequency phonon scattering intensity. Furthermore we observe one phase with reduced symmetry that is attributed to a cooperative Jahn-Teller effect. Pronounced electron-phonon interaction manifests itself as a strong Fano-resonance of phonons related to {FeN6} and {FeN4O2} coordination octahedra. Density functional theory supports this interpretation.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, 3 table

Consecutive single-crystal-to-single-crystal isomerization of novel octamolybdate anions within a microporous hybrid framework with robust water sorption properties

The 3D hybrid framework [{Cu(cyclam)}3 (κ-Mo8 O27 )] ⋅ 14H2 O (1) (cyclam=1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) undergoes sequential single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformations upon heating to afford two different anhydrous phases (2 a and 3 a). These transitions modify the framework dimensionality and enable the isomerization of κ-octamolybdate (κ-Mo8 ) anions into λ (2 a) and μ (3 a) forms through metal migration. Hydration of 3 a involves condensation of one water molecule to the cluster to afford the γ-Mo8 isomer in 4, which dehydrates back into 3 a through the 6 a intermediate. In contrast, 2 a reversibly hydrates to form 5, exhibiting the same Mo8 cluster as that of 1. It is remarkable that three of the Mo8 clusters (κ, λ and μ) are new and that up to three different microporous phases can be isolated from 1 (2 a, 3 a, and 6 a). Water vapor sorption analyses show high recyclability and the highest uptake values for POM-based systems. The isotherms display an abrupt step at low humidity level desirable for humidity control devices or water harvesting in drylands.Funded by Eusko Jaurlaritza/Gobierno Vasco (EJ/GV, grants IT1722-22 and KK-2022/00045). E.R.B. thanks EJ/GV for her doctoral fellowship (PRE_2018_1_0143). Technical and human support from SGIker (UPV/EHU) is gratefully acknowledged.Peer reviewe

Organic Crystal Engineering: Frontiers in Crystal Engineering

10.1002/9780470681794Organic Crystal Engineering: Frontiers in Crystal Engineering

Screening and preparation of cocrystals: A comparative study of mechanochemistry vs slurry methods

Cocrystals of biologically active molecular compounds have potential utility in drug products thanks to their effect upon physicochemical properties such as aqueous solubility. The fact that control of cocrystallization can be more challenging than crystallization of single component crystals means that systematic studies that address the methodology of cocrystal screening, production, and purification are a topical subject. We previously reported a comparison of slow evaporation vs mechanochemistry for a library of 25 molecular cocrystals. Herein, we compare the previously reported mechanochemistry results (solvent-drop grinding (SDG) with eight solvents) with new results obtained from slurrying in five preferred solvents using the same library of 25 cocrystals. Overall, both methods were found to be effective with slurrying and SDG being 94 and 78.5% successful, respectively. Importantly, 96% of the cocrystals formed via slurrying were observed to be free of starting materials (coformers) according to powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), whereas this was the case for only 72% of the cocrystals prepared by SDG. Slurrying therefore compared favorably with mechanochemistry, which tends to leave small amounts of unreacted coformer(s) as byproducts, and solution crystallization, which often affords crystals of the least soluble coformer because it can be difficult to control the saturation of three or more solids. Perhaps the most interesting and surprising result of this study was that water slurrying proved to be highly effective, even for low-solubility coformers. Indeed, water slurrying was found to be effective for 21 of the 25 cocrystals studie