Volume 59, Issue 6 pp. 2251-2255
Communication

Separation of Bromoalkanes Isomers by Nonporous Adaptive Crystals of Leaning Pillar[6]arene

Jia-Rui Wu

Jia-Rui Wu

State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, International Joint Research Laboratory of Nano-Micro Architecture Chemistry (NMAC), College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012 P. R. China

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Prof. Bao Li

Prof. Bao Li

State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012 P. R. China

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Prof. Ying-Wei Yang

Corresponding Author

Prof. Ying-Wei Yang

State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, International Joint Research Laboratory of Nano-Micro Architecture Chemistry (NMAC), College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012 P. R. China

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First published: 25 November 2019
Citations: 121

Graphical Abstract

The separation of haloalkane isomers is of high practical value in both synthetic chemistry and petrochemical industry. Herein, a simple-operating and energy-efficient separation method by using nonporous leaning towerarene crystals to separate bromoalkane isomers is provided.

Abstract

Haloalkanes are important chemicals in synthetic chemistry and petrochemical industry, but the separation of their isomers is a big hurdle. Herein, we report a facile energy-efficient adsorptive separation strategy using a new class of nonporous adaptive crystals based on leaning pillar[6]arene. Desolvated perethylated leaning pillar[6]arene crystals (EtLP6) with interesting nonporous character show a preference for 1-bromoalkane isomers over 2-bromoalkane isomers. EtLP6 is capable of separating 1-bromopropane, 1-bromobutane, and 1-bromopentane from the corresponding 1:1 (v/v) mixtures of 1/2-positional isomers with purities from 89.6 % to 96.3 % in only one adsorption cycle. The selectivity is endowed by the different host–guest binding modes and different stabilities of EtLP6 crystalloids loaded with 1- and 2-positional isomers. Significantly, the guest–adsorbed assemblies are highly stable at room temperature and EtLP6 can be reused many times without any decrease in performance.

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