Triple Framework Isomerism and Efficient Ethane/Ethylene Separation of Single‐Crystal Covalent Organic Frameworks With 2D hcb Sheets

B Baoqiu Yu (Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering) T Tonghai Wang (College of Chemistry) Y Yucheng Jin (Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering) Z Zhongwei Liu (Key Laboratory of Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry of Guizhou Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) Q Qingmei Xu S Shangwei Yuan (Key Laboratory of Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry of Guizhou Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) X Xin Xiao (Key Laboratory of Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry of Guizhou Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) X Xu Ding (State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) H Hailong Wang (Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering) Z Zhenjie Zhang (College of Chemistry, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter) B Banglin Chen J Jianzhuang Jiang (Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Constructing triple framework isomerism with atom‐resolution structures is of great significance but remains highly challenging for covalent organic frameworks (COFs). Herein, [3+3] imine condensation of 1,3,5‐trimethyl‐2,4,6‐tris(4‐aminophenyl)benzene with 1,3,5‐triethyl‐2,4,6‐tris(4‐formylphenyl)benzene affords three single‐crystal COF isomers composed of hcb nets. Their AB hcb stacking, double [2D+2D], and triple [2D+2D+2D] crossing entangled structures have been resolved by 3D electron diffraction. Among the three desolvated COFs, GZU‐4a exhibits the highest ethane uptake (100.7 cm 3 g −1 ) and ethane/ethylene selectivity (1.6), enabling one‐step production of high‐purity ethylene (>99.99%) in dynamic breakthrough experiments. The superior and inverse separation performance originates from its rigid non‐interpenetrated framework with optimized pore confinement for strengthened ethane binding. This work not only presents an unprecedented example of triple isomeric COFs with atom‐resolution structures from non‐interpenetration to inclined interpenetration of 2D nets, but also shows an inverse adsorption selectivity for ethane over ethylene, greatly enriching the diversity of COFs.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 1, Issue 1
Published July 29, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (12)

B

Baoqiu Yu

Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering

T

Tonghai Wang

College of Chemistry

Y

Yucheng Jin

Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering

Z

Zhongwei Liu

Key Laboratory of Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry of Guizhou Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Q

Qingmei Xu

S

Shangwei Yuan

Key Laboratory of Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry of Guizhou Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

X

Xin Xiao

Key Laboratory of Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry of Guizhou Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

X

Xu Ding

State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

H

Hailong Wang

Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering

Z

Zhenjie Zhang

College of Chemistry, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter

B

Banglin Chen

J

Jianzhuang Jiang

Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering