Piero Sozzani

Nanochannels of Two Distinct Cross-Sections in a Porous Al-Based Coordination Polymer

A new aluminum naphthalenedicarboxylate Al(OH)(1,4-NDC) x 2 H2O compound has been synthesized. The crystal structure exhibits a three-dimensional framework composed of infinite chains of corner-sharing octahedral Al(OH)2O4 with 1,4-naphthanedicarboxylate ligands forming two types of channels with squared-shape cross-section. The large channels present a cross-section of 7.7 x 7.7 A(2), while the small channels are about 3.0 x 3.0 A(2). When water molecules are removed, no structural transformation occurs, generating a robust structure with permanent porosity and remarkable thermal stability. 2D (1)H-(13)C heteronuclear correlation NMR measurements, together with the application of Lee-Goldburg homonuclear decoupling, were applied, for the first time, to porous coordination polymers revealing the spatial relationships between the (1)H and (13)C spin-active nuclei of the framework. To demonstrate the open pore structure and the easy accessibility of the nanochannels to the gas phase, highly sensitive hyperpolarized (HP) xenon NMR, under extreme xenon dilution, has been applied. Xenon can diffuse selectively into the large nanochannels, while the small ones show no substantial uptake of xenon due to severe restrictions along the channels that prevent the diffusion. Two-dimensional exchange experiments showed the exchange time to be as short as 15 ms. Through variable-temperature HP (129)Xe NMR experiments we were able to achieve an unprecedented description of the large nanochannel space and surface, a physisorption energy of 10 kJ mol(-1), and the chemical shift value of xenon probing the internal surfaces. The large pore channels are straight, parallel, and independent, allowing one-dimensional anisotropic diffusion of gases and vapors. Their walls are composed of the naphthalene moieties that create an unique environment for selective sorption. These results prompted us to measure the storage capacity toward methanol, acetone, benzene, and carbon dioxide. The selective adsorption of methanol and acetone vs that of water, together with the permanent porosity and high thermal stability, makes this compound a suitable matrix for separation and purification.

Conformation and Molecular Dynamics of Single Polystyrene Chain Confined in Coordination Nanospace

Molecules confined in nanospaces will have distinctly different properties to those in the bulk state because of the formation of specific molecular assemblies and conformations. We studied the chain conformation and dynamics of single polystyrene (PSt) chains confined in highly regular one-dimensional nanochannels of a porous coordination polymer [Zn 2(bdc) 2ted] n ( 1; bdc = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate, ted = triethylenediamine). Characterization by two-dimensional (2D) heteronuclear (1)H- (13)C NMR gave a direct demonstration of the nanocomposite formation and the intimacy between the PSt and the pore surfaces of 1. Calorimetric analysis of the composite did not reveal any glass transition of PSt, which illustrates the different nature of the PSt encapsulated in the nanochannels compared with that of bulk PSt. From N 2 adsorption measurements, the apparent density of PSt in the nanochannel was estimated to be 0.55 g cm (-3), which is much lower than that of bulk PSt. Results of a solid-state (2)H NMR study of the composite showed the homogeneous mobility of phenyl flipping with significantly low activation energy, as a result of the encapsulation of single PSt chains in one-dimensional regular crystalline nanochannels. This is also supported by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.

Photoinduced reversible switching of porosity in molecular crystals based on star-shaped azobenzene tetramers

The development of solid materials that can be reversibly interconverted by light between forms with different physico-chemical properties is of great interest for separation, catalysis, optoelectronics, holography, mechanical actuation and solar energy conversion. Here, we describe a series of shape-persistent azobenzene tetramers that form porous molecular crystals in their E-configuration, the porosity of which can be tuned by changing the peripheral substituents on the molecule. Efficient E→Z photoisomerization of the azobenzene units takes place in the solid state and converts the crystals into a non-porous amorphous melt phase. Crystallinity and porosity are restored upon Z→E isomerization promoted by visible light irradiation or heating. We demonstrate that the photoisomerization enables reversible on/off switching of optical properties such as birefringence as well as the capture of CO2 from the gas phase. The linear design, structural versatility and synthetic accessibility make this new family of materials potentially interesting for technological applications.

Inclusion Compound Based Approach to Arrays of Artificial Dipolar Molecular Rotors. A Surface Inclusion

We describe an approach to regular triangular arrays of dipolar molecular rotors based on insertion of dipolar rotator carrying shafts as guests into channels of a host, tris(o-phenylenedioxy)cyclotriphosphazene (TPP). The rotor guests can either enter the bulk of the host or stay at or near the surface, if a suitable stopper is installed at the end of the shaft. Differential scanning calorimetry, solid-state NMR, and powder X-ray diffraction were used to examine the insertion of a dipolar rotor synthesized for the purpose, 1-n-hexadecyl-12-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-p-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane, and it was found that it forms a surface inclusion compound. Rotational barriers from 1.2 to 9 kcal/mol were found by dielectric spectroscopy and were attributed to rotors inserted into the surface to different degrees, some rubbing the surface as they turn.

Cooperation of multiple CH⋯π interactions to stabilize polymers in aromatic nanochannels as indicated by 2D solid state NMR

Advanced 2D solid state NMR techniques reveal weak intermolecular interactions that cooperatively sustain nanostructures of high molecular mass aliphatic polymers entrapped as guests in channels formed by an aromatic host.

Engineering Switchable Rotors in Molecular Crystals with Open Porosity

The first example of a porous molecular crystal containing rotors is presented. The permanently porous crystal architecture is sustained by rotor-bearing molecular rods which are connected through charge-assisted hydrogen bonds. The rotors, as fast as 10(8) Hz at 240 K, are exposed to the crystalline channels, which absorb CO2 and I2 vapors at low pressure. The rotor dynamics could be switched off and on by I2 absorption/desorption, showing remarkable change of material dynamics by the interaction with gaseous species and suggesting the use of molecular crystals in sensing and pollutant management.

Influence of Anions in Silver Supramolecular Frameworks: Structural Characteristics and Sorption Properties.

The complexation of a preorganized thioether-functionalized bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligand (L) with silver precursors produces supramolecular structures organized at two hierarchical levels: [AgL](6)(X)(6) metal-organic cyclic hexamers and their organization in 3D architectures. The cyclic toroidal hexamers of 22-26 Å external diameter are found to be stable already in solution before self-assembly into the crystalline state. In the 3D lattice, the hexameric building block are arranged in different highly symmetric space groups as a function of a variety of anions (cubic Fd3 with PF(6)(-) or BF(4)(-) and rhombohedral R3 with CF(3)SO(3)(-) or NO(3)(-)) and form cavities with the geometrical shapes of Platonic solids (tetrahedron and octahedron) that can be occupied by a variety of solvent molecules. Upon evacuation, cubic crystals can produce stable frameworks with permanent porosity, which can absorb reversibly several vapors, CO(2) and CH(4).

Molecular rotors in hierarchically ordered mesoporous organosilica frameworks

Diphenylene moieties, molecularly ordered in the framework of periodic mesoporous organosilicas, behave as molecular rotors and show a mobility with correlation times as short as a few nanoseconds.

Molecular Rotors in Porous Organic Frameworks

Porous organic frameworks perform a variety of functions, owing to their extremely large surface areas, but the dynamics of the structural elements have never been explored. Our discovery of ultra-fast molecular rotors (10(6)  Hz at 225 K) in their architectures allows us to look at them from a new perspective. The constructive elements are robust struts and rapid rotors, resulting in a dynamic material whose motion can be frozen or released at will. The rotational motion can be actively regulated in response to guests. As the temperature is increased, the rotors spin ever faster, approaching free-rotational diffusion at 550 K. The unusual combination of remarkable nanoporosity with fast dynamics is intriguing for engineering oscillating dipoles and producing responsive materials with switchable ferroelectricity, and for applications spanning from sensors to actuators, which capture and release chemicals on command.

Click chemistry produces hyper-cross-linked polymers with tetrahedral cores

Methane and adamantane based hyper-cross-linked polymers have been prepared by click chemistry reacting the corresponding tetraalkynes with 1,4-diazidobenzene. The adamantane based HCP proved to be very efficient for CO2 capture at low pressures.