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.