Supramolecular Engineering of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Porosity in Covalent Organic Cages

Bojdys, M. J.; Briggs, M. E.; Jones, J. T. A.; Adams, D. J.; Chong, S. Y.; Schmidtmann, M.; Cooper,* A. I. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2011, 133, 16566-16571.

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Control over pore size, shape, and connectivity in synthetic porous materials is important in applications such as separation, storage, and catalysis. Crystalline organic cage molecules can exhibit permanent porosity, but there are few synthetic methods to control the crystal packing and hence the pore connectivity. Typically, porosity is either ‘intrinsic’ (within the molecules) or ‘extrinsic’ (between the molecules)—but not both. We report a supramolecular approach to the assembly of porous organic cages which involves bulky directing groups that frustrate the crystal packing. This generates, in a synthetically designed fashion, additional ‘extrinsic’ porosity between the intrinsically porous cage units. One of the molecular crystals exhibits an apparent Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of 854 m2 g–1, which is higher than that of unfunctionalized cages of the same dimensions. Moreover, connectivity between pores, and hence guest uptakes, can be modulated by the introduction of halogen bonding motifs in the cage modules. This suggests a broader approach to the supramolecular engineering of porosity in molecular organic crystals.

DOI: 10.1021/ja2056374 [Download]

Reprinted with permission from Bojdys, M. J.; Briggs, M. E.; Jones, J. T. A.; Adams, D. J.; Chong, S. Y.; Schmidtmann, M.; Cooper, A. I. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2011, 133, 16566-16571. Copyright 2011 American Chemical Society.

Bulk and Adsorbed Monolayer Phase Behavior of Binary Mixtures of Undecanoic Acid and Undecylamine: Catanionic Monolayers

Sun, C.; Bojdys, M. J.; Clarke,* S. M.; Harper, L. D.; Jefferson, A. Langmuir, 2011, 27, 3626-3637.

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Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction (PXRD) have been used to determine the phase behavior of the binary mixtures of undecanoic acid (A) and undecylamine (B) in the bulk. In addition, we report DSC data that indicates very similar behavior for the solid monolayers of these materials adsorbed on the surface of graphite. The two species are found to form a series of stoichiometric complexes of the type AB, A2B, and A3B on the acid rich side of the phase diagram. Interestingly, no similar series of complexes is evident on the amine rich side. As a result of this complexation, the solid monolayers of the binary mixtures exhibit a very pronounced enhancement in stability relative to the pure adsorbates.

DOI: 10.1021/la1048198 [Download]

Reprinted with permission from Sun, C.; Bojdys, M. J.; Clarke, S. M.; Harper, L. D.; Jefferson, A. Langmuir, 2011, 27, 3626-3637. Copyright 2011 American Chemical Society.

Ionothermal Route to Layered Two-Dimensional Polymer-Frameworks Based on Heptazine Linkers

Bojdys,* M. J.; Wohlgemuth, S. A.; Thomas, A.; Antonietti, M. Macromolecules 2010, 43, 6639-6645.

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Layered two-dimensional polymer frameworks were formed on the basis of the thermally-induced auto-condensation mechanism of heptazine (C6N7) in a salt melt of lithium bromide and potassium bromide from three different molecular building blocks. The backbone of the materials is based on strong covalent bonds (C-C, C-N) resulting in high thermal stabilities (< 600 °C) and low bulk density, but no accessible pores.

DOI: 10.1021/ma101008c [Download]

Reprinted with permission from Bojdys, M. J.; Wohlgemuth, S. A.; Thomas, A.; Antonietti, M. Macromolecules 2010, 43, 6639-6645. Copyright 2010 American Chemical Society.

Rational Extension of the Family of Layered, Covalent, Triazine-Based Frameworks with Regular Porosity

Bojdys,* M. J.; Jeromenok, J.; Thomas, A.; Antonietti, M. Advanced Materials 2010, 22, 2202-2205.

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A layered, covalent, triazine-based framework (CTF) was synthesized via the condensation of 2,6-naphthalenedicarbonitrile under ionothermal conditions. The polytrimerization of this bi functional carbon nitrile in zinc chloride at lower temperatures yields a well-ordered, close-packed framework. At elevated temperatures an amorphous, yet porous solid is obtained, which shows remarkable thermal stability (640 °C) and a high surface area (2255 m2 g−1 and 1.51 cm3 g−1).

DOI: 10.1002/adma.200903436 [Download]

This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Bojdys, M. J.; Jeromenok, J.; Thomas, A.; Antonietti, M. Advanced Materials 2010, 22, 2202-2205, which has been published in final form at [DOI: 10.1002/adma.200903436].

Ionothermal Synthesis of Crystalline, Condensed, Graphitic Carbon Nitride

Bojdys, M. J.; Muller, J. O.; Antonietti, M.; Thomas,* A. Chemistry-A European Journal 2008, 14, 8177-8182.

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Herein we report the synthesis of a crystalline graphitic carbon nitride, or g-C3N4, obtained from the temperature-induced condensation of dicyandiamide (NH2C(=NH)NHCN) by using a salt melt of lithium chloride and potassium chloride as the solvent. The proposed crystal structure of this g-C3N4 species is based on sheets of hexagonally arranged s-heptazine (C6N7) units that are held together by covalent bonds between C and N atoms which are stacked in a graphitic, staggered fashion, as corroborated by powder X-ray diffractometry and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.

DOI: 10.1002/chem.200800190 [Download]

This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Bojdys, M. J.; Muller, J. O.; Antonietti, M.; Thomas, A. Chemistry-A European Journal 2008, 14, 8177-8182, which has been published in final form at [DOI: 10.1002/chem.200800190].

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