Coordination-driven self-assembly of a series of dinuclear M2L2 mesocates with a bis-bidentate pyridylimine ligand

Four isostructural dinuclear M2L2 mesocates of the general formula [M-2(NCS)(4)(L)(2)]center dot 4.5MeOH (1(M); M = Mn, Fe, Co, Zn) were constructed by using the coordination-driven self-assembly of the [M(NCS)(2)] precursor and the flexible bis-bidentate pyridylimine Schiff base ligand L (L = 4,4'-(1,4-phenylenebis(oxy))bis(N-(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)aniline). The centrosymmetric M2L2 mesocate forms through the side-by-side coordination of two L ligands to a pair of M(II) ions. The mesocates exhibit a reversible temperature induced desolvation-solvation behavior without losing their structural integrity. The activated 1(Co), as the representative M2L2 mesocate, shows an exceptionally high MeOH vapour uptake capacity of 481.9 cm(3) g(-1) (68.8 wt%) at STP with good recyclability. Notably, it also exhibits CO2 adsorption with an uptake capacity of 20.2 cm(3) g(-1) (3.6 wt%) at room temperature and 1 bar.

Automated summary

Four isostructural dinuclear M2L2 mesocates were constructed by coordination-driven self-assembly using [M(NCS)(2)] precursor and flexible bis-bidentate pyridylimine Schiff base ligand L. These mesocates exhibit reversible temperature induced desolvation-solvation behavior, with high MeOH vapour uptake capacity and good recyclability. Notably, activated 1(Co) shows exceptional MeOH vapour uptake capacity at STP and also demonstrates CO2 adsorption at room temperature and 1 bar.