Multifunctional fourfold interpenetrating diamondoid network: Gas separation and fabrication of palladium nanoparticles

A fourfold interpenetrating diamondoid network, [{[Ni(cyclam)](2)-(mtb)}(n)]center dot 8n H2O center dot 4(n) DMF (1) (MTB = methanetetrabenzoate, DMF = dimethylformamide), has been assembled from [Ni(cyclam)][ClO4](2) (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) and methanctetrabenzoic acid (H4MTB) in DMF/H2O (7:3, v/v) in the presence of triethylamine (TEA). Despite the high-fold interpenetration, 1 generates 1D channels that are occupied by water and DMF guest molecules. Solid 1, after removal of guest molecules, exhibits selective gas adsorption behavior for H-2, CO2, and O-2 rather than N-2 and CH4 suggesting possible applications in gas separation technologies. In addition, solid 1 can be applied in the fabrication of small Pd (2.0 +/- 0.6 nm) nanoparticles without any extra reducing or capping agent because a Ni-II macrocyclic species incorporated in 1 reduces Pd-II ions to Pd-0 on immersion of 1 in the solution of Pd(NO3)(2)center dot 2H(2)O in MeCN at room temperature.