A 9-connected metal–organic framework with gas adsorption properties

A 9-connected, trinuclear cluster-based microporous metal–organic framework, Ni3(OH)(Ina)3(BDC)1.5 (Ina = isonicotinate and BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) (1), was synthesized and characterized. The structure is constructed from a 3D channel and two kinds of cages (tetrahedron and triangular pyramid cages). Compound 1 is microporous with a BET surface area of 1255 m2 g−1. It has been observed that the amount of adsorbed benzene (22.60%) is much higher than that of cyclohexane (1.40%), showing its potential to separate benzene and cyclohexane.