The molecular building block approach was employed effectively to construct a series of novel isoreticular, highly porous and stable, aluminum-based metal–organic frameworks with soc topology. From this platform, three compounds were experimentally isolated and fully characterized: namely, the parent Al-soc-MOF-1 and its naphthalene and anthracene analogues. Al-soc-MOF-1 exhibits outstanding gravimetric methane uptake (total and working capacity). It is shown experimentally, for the first time, that the Al-soc-MOF platform can address the challenging Department of Energy dual target of 0.5 g/g (gravimetric) and 264 cm3 (STP)/cm3 (volumetric) methane storage. Furthermore, Al-soc-MOF exhibited the highest total gravimetric and volumetric uptake for carbon dioxide and the utmost total and deliverable uptake for oxygen at relatively high pressures among all microporous MOFs. In order to correlate the MOF pore structure and functionality to the gas storage properties, to better understand the structure–property relationship, we performed a molecular simulation study and evaluated the methane storage performance of the Al-soc-MOF platform using diverse organic linkers. It was found that shortening the parent Al-soc-MOF-1 linker resulted in a noticeable enhancement in the working volumetric capacity at specific temperatures and pressures with amply conserved gravimetric uptake/working capacity. In contrast, further expansion of the organic linker (branches and/or core) led to isostructural Al-soc-MOFs with enhanced gravimetric uptake but noticeably lower volumetric capacity. The collective experimental and simulation studies indicated that the parent Al-soc-MOF-1 exhibits the best compromise between the volumetric and gravimetric total and working uptakes under a wide range of pressure and temperature conditions.

The selective capture of carbon dioxide in porous materials has potential for the storage and purification of fuel and flue gases. However, adsorption capacities under dynamic conditions are often insufficient for practical applications, and strategies to enhance CO(2)-host selectivity are required. The unique partially interpenetrated metal-organic framework NOTT-202 represents a new class of dynamic material that undergoes pronounced framework phase transition on desolvation. We report temperature-dependent adsorption/desorption hysteresis in desolvated NOTT-202a that responds selectively to CO(2). The CO(2) isotherm shows three steps in the adsorption profile at 195 K, and stepwise filling of pores generated within the observed partially interpenetrated structure has been modelled by grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations. Adsorption of N(2), CH(4), O(2), Ar and H(2) exhibits reversible isotherms without hysteresis under the same conditions, and this allows capture of gases at high pressure, but selectively leaves CO(2) trapped in the nanopores at low pressure.

A robust binary hydrogen-bonded supramolecular organic framework (SOF-7) has been synthesized by solvothermal reaction of 1,4-bis-(4-(3,5-dicyano-2,6-dipyridyl)dihydropyridyl)benzene (1) and 5,5′-bis-(azanediyl)-oxalyl-diisophthalic acid (2). Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows that SOF-7 comprises 2 and 1,4-bis-(4-(3,5-dicyano-2,6-dipyridyl)pyridyl)benzene (3); the latter formed in situ from the oxidative dehydrogenation of 1. SOF-7 shows a three-dimensional four-fold interpenetrated structure with complementary O–H···N hydrogen bonds to form channels that are decorated with cyano and amide groups. SOF-7 exhibits excellent thermal stability and solvent and moisture durability as well as permanent porosity. The activated desolvated material SOF-7a shows high CO2 adsorption capacity and selectivity compared with other porous organic materials assembled solely through hydrogen bonding.

Martin (2014) Analysis of high and selective uptake of CO2 in an oxamide-containing {Cu2(OOCR)4}-based metal-organic framework. 20 (24 A note on versions:The version presented here may differ from the published version or from the version of record. If you wish to cite this item you are advised to consult the publisher's version. Please see the repository url above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription.For more information, please contact eprints@nottingham.ac.uk Grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations show excellent agreement with the experimental gas isotherm data, and a computational study into the specific interactions and binding energies of both CO 2 and CH 4 with the linkers in NOTT-125 reveals a set of strong interactions between CO 2 and the oxamide motif, which are not possible with a single amide.3

The highly porous (3,24)-connected framework NOTT-122 incorporates a C 3 -symmetric angularly connected isophthalate linker containing 1,2,3-triazole rings and shows body-centered tetragonal packing of [Cu 24 (isophthalate) 24 ] cuboctahedra. This unique packing, coupled with the high density of free N-donor sites, is responsible for the simultaneous high H 2 , CH 4 and CO 2 adsorption capacities in desolvated NOTT-122a. † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: CCDC number for structure of Experimental details, crystallographic parameters, adsorption isotherms, and GCMC calculations. CCDC 906058. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see

The unique bifunctional porous metal-organic framework, [Co(HL dc )]$1.5MeOH$dioxane, incorporates both free-standing carboxyl and pyridyl groups within its pores. Gas adsorption measurements on the desolvated framework reveal unusual selective CO 2 adsorption over C 2 H 2 and CH 4 linked to a framework phase change from a narrow pore (np) to a large pore (lp) form, mediated by CO 2 uptake at 195 K. This phase transition has been monitored by in situ powder X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy, and modelled by Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations revealing that the reversible np to lp transition is linked to the rotation of pyridyl rings acting as flexible ''pore gates''. Scheme 1 In situ decarboxylation of H 4 L to give [HL dc ] 2À in 1 and 2, and view of binding of [HL dc ] 2À to Co(II) showing non-coordinated pendant acidic and basic sites (Co: turquoise; O: red; N: blue; C: grey; H: white).

Hollow graphitized carbon nanofibres (GNF) are employed as nanoscale reaction vessels for the hydrosilylation of alkynes. The effects of confinement in GNF on the regioselectivity of addition to triple carbon-carbon bonds are explored. A systematic comparison of the catalytic activities of Rh and RhPt nanoparticles embedded in a nanoreactor with free-standing and surface-adsorbed nanoparticles reveals key mechanisms governing the regioselectivity. Directions of reactions inside GNF are largely controlled by the non-covalent interactions between reactant molecules and the nanofibre channel. The specific π-π interactions increase the local concentration of the aromatic reactant and thus promote the formation of the E isomer of the β-addition product. In contrast, the presence of aromatic groups on both reactants (silane and alkyne) reverses the effect of confinement and favours the formation of the Z isomer due to enhanced interactions between aromatic groups in the cis-orientation with the internal graphitic step-edges of GNF. The importance of π-π interactions is confirmed by studying transformations of aliphatic reactants that show no measurable changes in regioselectivity upon confinement in carbon nanoreactors.

A synthesis of terminal vinylsilanes by triflimide‐catalysed rearrangement of N‐(1‐trimethylsilyl)allylhydrazones is reported. This protocol provides a convenient access to versatile olefinic building blocks through a traceless bond construction. Hydrazones derived from aromatic aldehydes give cis‐cyclopropanes in an unexpected side‐reaction.