Separation of p‐Divinylbenzene by Selective Room‐Temperature Adsorption Inside Mg‐CUK‐1 Prepared by Aqueous Microwave Synthesis

Abstract

AbstractA new MgII‐based version of the porous coordination polymer CUK‐1 with one‐dimensional pore structure was prepared by microwave synthesis in water. Mg‐CUK‐1 is moisture‐stable, thermally stable up to 500 °C, and shows unusual reversible soft‐crystal behavior: dehydrated single crystals of the material selectively adsorb a range of organic molecules at ambient temperature and pressure. Both polar and apolar aromatic compounds, including pyridine, benzene, p‐xylene, and p‐divinylbenzene (p‐DVB), are all readily adsorbed, while other isomers from complex mixtures of xylenes or DVBs are selectively excluded. The solvent‐loaded structures have been studied by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Time‐dependent liquid sorption experiments using commercially available DVB demonstrate a high and rapid selective adsorption of p‐DVB and exclusion of m‐DVB and ethylvinylbenzene isomers.