Efficient light hydrocarbon separation and CO₂ capture and conversion in a stable MOF with oxalamide-decorated polar tubes

Abstract

The first strontium-based MOF possessing polar tubular channels embedded with a high density of open Lewis acidic metal sites and basic oxalamide groups was constructed, which shows not only a high CO₂ and C₂H₆ adsorption capability and significant selectivity for CO₂ over both CH₄ and CO, and for C₂H₆ over CH₄, but also size-selective chemical conversion of CO₂ with epoxides producing cyclic carbonates under ambient conditions.