An Amino-Functionalized Metal-Organic Framework, Based on a Rare Ba12(COO)18(NO3)2 Cluster, for Efficient C3/C2/C1 Separation and Preferential Catalytic Performance

A barium(II) metal-organic framework (MOF) based on a predesigned amino-functionalized ligand, namely [Ba-2(L)(DMF)(H2O)(NO3)(1/3)]center dot DMF center dot EtOH center dot 2H(2)O (UPC-33) [H3L=4,4'-((2-amino-5-carboxy-1,3-phenylene)bis(ethyne-2,1-diyl))-dibenzoic acid] has been synthesized. UPC-33 is a 3-dimensional 3,18-connected network with fcu topology with a rare twelve-nuclear Ba-12(COO)(18)(NO3)(2) cluster. UPC-33 shows permanent porosity and a high adsorption heat of CO2 (49.92 kJ mol(-1)), which can be used as a platform for selective adsorption of CO2/CH4 (8.09). In addition, UPC-33 exhibits high separation selectivity for C-3 light hydrocarbons with respect to CH4 (228.34, 151.40 for C3H6/CH4, C3H8/CH4 at 273k and 1bar), as shown by single component gas sorption and selectivity calculations. Due to the existence of -NH2 groups in the channels, UPC-33 can effectively catalyze Knoevenagel condensation reactions with high yield, and substrate size and electron dependency.