A novel zinc(ii) metal-organic framework with a diamond-like structure: synthesis, study of thermal robustness and gas adsorption properties.

A solvothermal reaction of Zn(ii) salt with methanetetrabenzoic acid (H4MTB) and 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam, CYC) created a new microporous metal-organic framework {[Zn2(μ4-MTB)(κ(4)-CYC)2]·2DMF·7H2O}n (DMF = N,N'-dimethylformamide). Single crystal X-ray diffraction showed that the complex exhibits a four-fold interpenetrated diamond-like structure topology with 1D jar-like channels with sizes about 14.1 × 14.1 and 2.4 × 2.4 Å(2). The stability of the framework and activation conditions of the compound have been studied by high-energy powder X-ray diffraction during in situ heating, thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy performed at different temperatures. The gas adsorption behaviour of {[Zn2(μ4-MTB)(κ(4)-CYC)2]·2DMF·7H2O}n was studied by adsorption of Ar, N2, CO2 and H2. Nitrogen and argon adsorption showed that the activated sample exhibits Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) specific surface areas of 644 m(2) g(-1) (N2) and 562 m(2) g(-1) (Ar). The complex adsorbs carbon dioxide with a maximum storage capacity of 10.5 wt% at 273 K and 101 kPa. The observed hydrogen uptake was 1.27 wt% at 77 K and 800 Torr, which is the highest value reported for the compounds containing a MTB(4-) linker. The adsorption heats of carbon dioxide and hydrogen, calculated according to the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, were in the range 22.8-22.4 kJ mol(-1) for CO2 and 8.9-3.2 kJ mol(-1) for H2, indicating weak interactions of the gases with the framework.