NanoUp group just published that Rh(II)-MOPs can be transferred (together with a cargo) between immiscible phases by pH changes or by cation-exchange reactions in J. Am. Chem. Soc..
Dr. Thais Grancha, Dr. Arnau Carné-Sánchez, Laura Hernández-López and Jorge Albalad from NanoUp have demostrated that Rh(II)-MOPs can thus behave as a kind of “molecular nanoparticle” combining the properties of NPs and molecules, opening up novel avenues for molecular transport and separation. Published in Journal of the American Chemical Society, we have shown that these MOPs can transport coordinatively-bound cargo between immiscible layers, including into solvents in which the cargo is insoluble. As proof-of-concept that our phase-transfer approach could be used in chemical separation, we have employed Rh(II)-based MOPs to separate a challenging mixture of structurally similar cyclic aliphatic (tetrahydrothiophene) and aromatic (thiophene) compounds.
We are confident that the possibility of transporting reagents into environments in which they are not naturally soluble, for their subsequent release via external chemical stimuli, will prove utile in diverse practical applications such as chemical separation, pollutant removal, and catalysis.
Congratulations Thais, Arnau, Laura & Jorge!
Article reference
Thais Grancha, Arnau Carné-Sánchez, Laura Hernández-López, Jorge Albalad, Inhar Imaz, Judith Juanuix, and Daniel Maspoch. Phase transfer of rhodium(II)-based metal−organic polyhedra bearing coordinatively bound cargo enables molecular separation. J. Am. Chem. Soc.. 2019, 141, 18349-18355. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b10403
