Separation of C2/C1 hydrocarbons through a gate-opening effect in a microporous metal–organic framework

Abstract

A flexible metal–organic framework (MOF) [Mn(INA)₂]·MeOH (1) (INA⁻ = isonicotinate) has been solvothermally synthesized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that compound 1 features a 3D microporous framework containing one-dimensional channels. The activated phase 1a displays permanent porosity with a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of 236 m² g⁻¹. Gas sorption analyses reveal that 1a exhibits interesting gate-opening hydrocarbon sorption behavior with considerable C2 uptake capacities but a negligible amount for CH₄ under ambient conditions. Selectivity calculation and breakthrough experiment comprehensively demonstrate that 1a has remarkably high selectivity towards C2 hydrocarbons over CH₄ under ambient conditions.