A Noncovalent π-Stacked Porous Organic Molecular Framework for Selective Separation of Aromatics and Cyclic Aliphatics

Selective separation using porous adsorbents is an energy-efficient alternative to traditional separation techniques. Stacked porous organic molecular frameworks (POMFs) capable of noncovalent pi...pi interactions are emerging as a new kind of adsorbents that facilitate green separation. Here we report a robust porous molecular crystal (TAPM-1), which is stabilized by multiple intermolecular pi...pi interactions. With its long-range pi -stacking, TAPM-1 has excellent hydrophobicity, thermostability, recyclability, and high selectivity for aromatics over the corresponding cyclic aliphatics. This enables TAPM-1 to serve as the stationary phase in the high-resolution gas chromatographic separation of benzene and cyclohexane or toluene and methylcyclohexane.

Automated summary

Selective separation using porous adsorbents is an energy-efficient alternative to traditional separation techniques. Stacked porous organic molecular frameworks (POMFs) capable of noncovalent pi...pi interactions are emerging as a new kind of adsorbents that facilitate green separation. The study introduces a robust porous molecular crystal (TAPM-1) with multiple intermolecular pi...pi interactions. TAPM-1 exhibits excellent hydrophobicity, thermostability, recyclability, and high selectivity for aromatics over cyclic aliphatics, making it suitable for high-resolution gas chromatographic separation.