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    Peristaltic Motion in Structurally Adaptive Molecular Crystals Enables Selective Propyne Capture


    Lin, Yun-Hsien, Evans, Hayden A., Raza, Asif, Javannikkhah, Sousa, Li, Xia, Zaworotko, Michael J., Vandichel, Matthias, Mukherjee, Soumya and Miljanić, Ognjen Š. (2025) Peristaltic Motion in Structurally Adaptive Molecular Crystals Enables Selective Propyne Capture. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 147 (47). pp. 43957-43963. ISSN 0002-7863

    Abstract

    Cyclotetrabenzoin and its tetraacetate, two macrocyclic porous molecular crystals, were examined as adsorbents for light hydrocarbons, with a focus on C3 hydrocarbons: propane, propene, and propyne. While both materials exhibit a preference for propyne, only the tetraacetate─owing to its higher surface area (570 vs. 42 m2 g–1), enhanced uptake capacity (1.99 vs. 1.19 mmol g–1), and faster kinetics─achieves dynamic binary separation of propyne from propylene under ambient conditions and various influent ratios (1/1, 1/2, and 2/1, v/v). The high propyne selectivity and separation trends were explained by using a combination of in situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction and molecular dynamics. These techniques suggested that the more rigid, extensively hydrogen-bonded structure of cyclotetrabenzoin transports propyne chiefly through pore enlargement. In cyclotetrabenzoin acetate, the absence of hydrogen bonding and larger void volume (25.9 vs. 9.6% in cyclotetrabenzoin) allows extensive structural adaptation that facilitates the capture and transport of propyne through the crystal. Rotation of cyclotetrabenzoin acetate’s benzene aromatic panels by ≈19° allows adjustment to the propyne structure, maximizing interactions with the C≡C triple bond and the acetylenic hydrogen. Beyond the molecule, extensive fluxionality allows for peristaltic transport of guests through the material but can also result in transient closure of one-dimensional channels observed in the single-crystal X-ray structure. These results highlight the importance of subtle structural adaptations in sorbent structures to the bulk separation performance and offer a new design strategy for gas sorption in transiently porous and ultramicroporous molecules.
    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: Adsorption; Alkyls; Hydrocarbons; Mixtures; Selectivity;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science & Engineering > Chemistry
    Faculty of Science & Engineering > Research Institutes > Hamilton Institute
    Faculty of Science & Engineering > Research Institutes > Human Health Institute
    Item ID: 21487
    Identification Number: 10.1021/jacs.5c16526
    Depositing User: Sousa Javannikkhah
    Date Deposited: 29 Apr 2026 13:32
    Journal or Publication Title: Journal of the American Chemical Society
    Publisher: American Chemical Society
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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