Intermediate-sized molecular sieving of styrene from larger and smaller analogues

Molecular sieving can lead to ultrahigh selectivity and low regeneration energy because it completely excludes all larger molecules via a size restriction mechanism. However, it allows adsorption of all molecules smaller than the pore aperture and so separations of complicated mixtures can be hindered. Here, we report an intermediate-sized molecular sieving (iSMS) effect in a metal–organic framework (MAF-41) designed with restricted flexibility, which also exhibits superhydrophobicity and ultrahigh thermal/chemical stabilities. Single-component isotherms and computational simulations show adsorption of styrene but complete exclusion of the larger analogue ethylbenzene (because it exceeds the maximal aperture size) and smaller toluene/benzene molecules that have insufficient adsorption energy to open the cavity. Mixture adsorption experiments show a high styrene selectivity of 1,250 for an ethylbenzene/styrene mixture and 3,300 for an ethylbenzene/styrene/toluene/benzene mixture (orders of magnitude higher than previous reports). This produces styrene with a purity of 99.9%+ in a single adsorption–desorption cycle. Controlling/restricting flexibility is the key for iSMS and can be a promising strategy for discovering other exceptional properties. Molecular sieving separates larger from smaller molecules, but all molecules smaller than the pore adsorb, hindering selectivity. Here, a MOF is reported with both molecular sieving and gate-opening, separating intermediate-sized molecules from larger and smaller analogues.