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The development of porous materials is of great interest for the capture of CO2 from various emission sources, which is essential to mitigate its detrimental environmental impact. In this direction, porous organic polymers (POPs) have emerged as prime candidates owing to their structural tunability, physiochemical stability and high surface areas. In an effort to transfer an intrinsic property of a cyclotetrabenzoin‐derived macrocycle – its high CO2 affinity – into porous networks, herein we report the synthesis of three‐dimensional (3D) macrocycle‐based POPs through the polycondensation of an octaketone macrocycle with phenazine‐2,3,7,8‐tetraamine hydrochloride. This polycondensation was performed under ionothermal conditions, using a eutectic salt mixture in the temperature range of 200 to 300 °C. The resulting polymers, named 3D‐mmPOPs, showed reaction temperature‐dependent surface areas and gas uptake properties. 3D‐mmPOP‐250 synthesized at 250 °C exhibited a surface area of 752 m2 g−1 and high microporosity originating from the macrocyclic units, thus resulting in an excellent CO2 binding enthalpy of 40.6 kJ mol−1 and CO2 uptake capacity of 3.51 mmol g−1 at 273 K, 1.1 bar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic electrode materials could revolutionize batteries because of their high energy densities, the use of Earth‐abundant elements, and structural diversity which allows fine‐tuning of electrochemical properties. However, small organic molecules and intermediates formed during their redox cycling in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) have high solubility in organic electrolytes, leading to rapid decay of cycling performance. We report the use of three cyclotetrabenzil octaketone macrocycles as cathode materials for LIBs. The rigid and insoluble naphthalene‐based cyclotetrabenzil reversibly accepts eight electrons in a two‐step process with a specific capacity of 279 mAh g−1 and a stable cycling performance with ≈65 % capacity retention after 135 cycles. DFT calculations indicate that its reduction increases both ring strain and ring rigidity, as demonstrated by computed high distortion energies, repulsive regions in NCI plots, and close [C⋅⋅⋅C] contacts between the naphthalenes. This work highlights the importance of shape‐persistency and ring strain in the design of redox‐active macrocycles that maintain very low solubility in various redox states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four extensively fluorinated tetraphenylethylenes (TPE) and one extensively fluorinated triphenylethylene have been synthesized using combinations of copper‐catalyzed C−H functionalization reactions and Stille coupling reactions. Surprisingly, in contrast to the parent TPE, these compounds show little to no aggregation‐induced emission (AIE). Instead, photocyclization into fluorinated phenanthrene products occurs. Effects of solvent and oxygen on the yield and selectivity of this photocyclization have been examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A porous molecular crystal (PMC) assembled by macrocyclic cyclotetrabenzoin acetate is an efficient adsorbent for CO2 separations. The 7.1×7.1 Å square pore of PMC and its ester C=O groups play important roles in improving its affinity for CO2 molecules. The benzene walls of macrocycle engage in an apparent [π⋅⋅⋅π] interaction with the molecule of CO2 at low pressure. In addition, the polar carbonyl groups pointing inward the square channels reduce the size of aperture to a 5.0×5.0 Å square, which offers kinetic selectivity for CO2 capture. The PMC features water tolerance and high structural stability under vacuum and various gas adsorption conditions, which are rare among intrinsically porous organic molecules. Most importantly, the moderate adsorbate‐adsorbent interaction allows the PMC to be readily regenerated, and therefore applied to pressure swing adsorption processes. The eluted N2 and CH4 are obtained with over 99.9 % and 99.8 % purity, respectively, and the separation performance is stable for 30 cycles. Coupled with its easy synthesis, cyclotetrabenzoin acetate is a promising adsorbent for CO2 separations from flue and natural gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The synthesis and characterization of novel macrocyclic, phenylene‐bridged azaacenes is reported. These species were obtained either by a conventional benzoin– diamine condensation, as shown for the case of the cyclotrimers, in which the azaacene units are separated by meta‐connected phenylene bridges, or by a Buchwald–Hartwig‐type Pd‐catalyzed coupling, which employs 1,2,5,6‐tetrabromodibenzocyclooctatetraene as the substrate and bis‐TIPS‐ethynylated diaminobenzene, ‐naphthalene or ‐anthracene as the coupling partner to give the double coupling products azaacene‐annulated dibenzocyclooctatetraenes in moderate yields. The macrocycles show strong emission and light emitting diodes have been built with brightnesses exceeding 1600 cd m−2. We evaluated the optical and electronic properties and the solid‐state structures of the molecules and discuss their properties through comparison with their linear and tetrameric N‐heteroacene counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the modular synthesis and characterization of several substituted N-hetero benzenacyclooctaphanes (BAOs), a new motif for heteroaromatic conjugated macrocycles. The targets were synthesized via condensation of substituted aromatic ortho-diamines with a cyclic octaketone building block in moderate to excellent yields (41-91 %). We evaluated the optical and electronic properties and the solid-state structures of the targets and discuss their properties through comparison with their linear diphenyl N-heteroacene counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A microporous metal-organic framework (MOF) was synthesized from [Zr6O4(OH)4(C6H5COO)12] clusters and a triacid ligand based on a shape-persistent arylene ethynylene macrocycle. This framework, dubbed Zr-MCMOF, is held together by metal-ligand coordination and multiple weak interactions: hydrogen bonding, [π⋅⋅⋅π] stacking, and [C−H⋅⋅⋅π] interactions. The rigid ligand has a 9 Å-wide central void, which serves as a predesigned aperture for the 1D channels; all of the porosity of Zr-MCMOF comes from the ligand. The resulting framework possesses high hydrolytic and thermal stability and a flexible structure unique among Zr-based MOFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanide-catalyzed benzoin condensation of terephthaldehyde produces a cyclic tetramer, which we propose to name cyclotetrabenzoin. Cyclotetrabenzoin is a square-shaped macrocycle ornamented with four α-hydroxyketone functionalities pointing away from the central cavity, the dimensions of which are 6.9×6.9 Å. In the solid state, these functional groups extensively hydrogen bond, resulting in a microporous three-dimensional organic framework with one-dimensional nanotube channels. This material exhibits permanent-albeit low-porosity, with a Langmuir surface area of 52 m2 g−1. Cyclotetrabenzoin's easy and inexpensive synthesis and purification may inspire the creation of other shape-persistent macrocycles and porous molecular crystals by benzoin condensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two mesoporous fluorinated metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were synthesized from extensively fluorinated tritopic carboxylate- and tetrazolate-based ligands. The tetrazolate-based framework MOFF-5 has an accessible surface area of 2445 m²g-1, the highest among fluorinated MOFs. Crystals of MOFF-5 adsorb hydrocarbons, fluorocarbons, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)--the latter two being ozone-depleting substances and potent greenhouse species--with weight capacities of up to 225%. The material exhibits an apparent preference for the adsorption of non-spherical molecules, binding unusually low amounts of both tetrafluoromethane and sulfur hexafluoride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differences in adsorption among the components of complex mixtures play a role in separations, surface-based sensing, and heterogeneous catalysis, and have been implicated in theories of the origin of life. Herein, we consider mixtures of imines and we show that if such complex mixtures are also dynamic-that is, if their components equilibrate among themselves-then they can dramatically simplify in composition during the course of column chromatography. As they travel down the column, imines continuously trade their aldehyde and amine constituents, favoring the formation of molecules with extremes of polarity at the expense of species with intermediate polarities. Iterative application of this principle leads to simplification of imine libraries containing up to 16 members into 4 major products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report structural characterization of a new member of m-phenylene ethynylene ring family. This shape-persistent macrocycle also co-crystallizes with hexafluoro-, 1,2,4,5-tetrafluoro-, 1,3,5-trifluoro, and 1,4-difluorobenzene. The four complexes are almost isostructural, and all show the fluoroarene included into the central cavity of the macrocycle. Characterized by multiple short CH⋅⋅⋅FC contacts, these inclusion complexes further dimerize in the solid state into a 2+2 assembly, in which the two macrocycles embrace each other by their large hydrophobic groups that are rotated by 60° relative to one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduction of cyclotribenzoin with sodium borohydride produces a cone-shaped hexaol. Crystals of this hexaol, obtained from wet tetrahydrofuran, encapsulate clusters of five water molecules in an idealized hydrogen-bonded arrangement. The water pentamer is stabilized by hydrogen bonding with the -OH groups of the hexaol, and [O−H⋅⋅⋅π] interactions with the benzene rings of the reduced cyclotribenzoin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new partially fluorinated dehydrobenzannulenes have been prepared by inter‐ and intramolecular oxidative homocoupling of diyne precursors. These systems contain fluorinated and nonfluorinated arene rings in a desymmetrized non‐alternant arrangement. Both macrocycles are roughly planar and organize into extended columns in the solid state. The assembly of these columns is mediated by the combination of dispersion interactions, slipped [π⋅⋅⋅π] stacking interactions of the perfluorinated rings with each other, and their association with the nonfluorinated rings in the molecules of the neighboring macrocycles. These results suggest that partial fluorination of dehydrobenzannulenes can serve as a versatile motif for their assembly into columnar superstructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interstellar! The modular synthesis and characterization of several substituted N ‐ hetero benzenacyclooctaphanes, a new motif for heteroaromatic conjugated cycles, is presented. The graphic illustrates the versatility of our system, demonstrated by several crystal structures of our target molecules. These were synthesized by condensation of substituted aromatic ortho ‐ diamines with a cyclic octaketone building block. More information can be found in the Full Paper by U. H. F. Bunz et al. on page 10543. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A shape ‐ persistent macrocycle from the m ‐ phenylene ethynylene family is capable of encapsulating 1,2 ‐ difluorobenzene, 1,3,5 ‐ trifluorobenzene, 1,2,4,5 ‐ tetrafluorobenzene, and hexafluorobenzene, in an almost isostructural arrangement, which places the fluoroarene into the cavity of the macrocycle. Curiously, symmetries of the (pseudo)hexagonal host and its guests do not have to be matched; this combination of various symmetries is reminiscent of the arabesques of Alhambra, as shown in the artist′s rendition. For more details, see the Full Paper by O. Š. Miljanić et al. page 2750 ff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]