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Separation of Chemical Reaction Intermediates by Metal–Organic Frameworks
Author(s) -
Centrone Andrea,
Santiso Erik E.,
Hatton T. Alan
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201100098
Subject(s) - metal organic framework , materials science , metal , chemical reaction , chemical engineering , chemistry , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , adsorption , engineering
HPLC columns custom‐packed with metal–organic framework (MOF) materials are used for the separation of four small intermediates and byproducts found in the commercial synthesis of an important active pharmaceutical ingredient in methanol. In particular, two closely related amines can be separated in the methanol reaction medium using MOFs, but not with traditional C18 columns using an optimized aqueous mobile phase. Infrared spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis are used in combination with molecular dynamic simulations to study the separation mechanism for the best‐performing MOF materials. It is found that separation with ZIF‐8 is the result of an interplay between the thermodynamic driving force for solute adsorption within the framework pores and the kinetics of solute diffusion into the material pores, while the separation with Basolite F300 is achieved because of the specific interactions between the solutes and Fe 3+ sites. This work, and the exceptional ability to tailor the porous properties of MOF materials, points to prospects for using MOF materials for the continuous separation and synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds.