[Cu(4-phenylpyridine)4(trifluoromethanesulfonate)2], a Werner complex that exhibits high selectivity for o-xylene

Abstract

[Cu(4-phenylpyridine)₄(trifluoromethanesulfonate)₂] is a new Werner complex that exhibits switching behaviour between non-porous (apohost) and porous (guest-loaded) phases upon exposure to o-xylene but not when exposed to other C8 isomers. High o-xylene selectivity (>6) vs. the other C8 isomers was observed from binary mixtures, only the third occurrence across all sorbent types.