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

Abstract

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 (Q st) 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.