Evidence of flexibility in the nanoporous iron(III) carboxylate MIL-89

The very large expansion upon adsorption of liquids, up to 160% in cell volume, has been observed in the iron (III) trans, trans muconate MIL-89 [(MIL = Material Institut Lavosier]. The structure of lutidine-containing MIL-89 (lutidine = 2.6-dimethylpyridine) has been determined using X-ray powder diffraction and computer simulations. Finally, the consequences of adsorption of various polar and apolar liquids have been evaluated using ex situ synchroton X-ray powder diffraction data and reveals that the swelling behavior of MIL-89 is selective but slightly different from the MIL-88 analogues.