Ultramicroporous MOF with high concentration of vacant Cu 11 sites

Abstract

An ultramicroporous metal–organic framework (MOF) is reported that contains 0.35 nm nanotube-like channels with an unprecedented concentration of vacant CuII coordination sites. The nonintersecting, narrow channels in [Cu3(cdm)4] (cdm = C(CN)2(CONH2)−) align in two perpendicular directions, structurally resembling copper-doped carbon nanotubes with CuII embedded in the walls of the channels. The combination of ultramicroporosity with the exposed CuII coordination sites gives size-based selectivity of CO2 over CH4, based on pore-size distribution and modeling. Neutron powder diffraction and molecular dynamics simulations show the close packing of single rows of guests within the tubular nanostructure and interaction of CO2 with the exposed metal sites. © 2014, American Chemical Society.