Microporous Coordination Polymers As Selective Sorbents for Liquid Chromatography

We evaluate the potential of microporous coordination polymers (MCPs) to act as the stationary phase in liquid chromatographic separations. MCPs derived from carboxylates coordinated to copper (HKUST-1) and zinc (MOF-5) were studied. The shape and size selective separation of organic compounds including benzene, ethylbenzene, styrene, naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, pyrene, 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene, and 1,3,5-tris(4-bromophenyl)benzene was performed, and in most cases excellent separation was achieved based on a combination of molecular sieving and adsorption effects.