Highly selective guest uptake in a silver sulfonate network imparted by a tetragonal to triclinic shift in the solid state

Abstract

The silver sulfonate network presented herein, silver 3-pyridinesulfonate, reversibly and selectively absorbs MeCN while undergoing a major structural rearrangement. The origin of this structural flexibility is a coupling of the weak coordinating ability of the SO3 group with the geometrically pliant silver(I) center. Single crystal and powder X-ray structures of both the desolvated and solvated forms are presented in addition to the mechanism of their reversible interconversion. A heterogeneous gas chromatographic study showing selective extraction of the MeCN is also presented. Extended solid frameworks which reorder to any extent are not common but the structure presented herein transforms from a tetragonal to a triclinic crystal system. The results indicate that cooperative interactions in systems based on supposedly weaker interactions can yield softer yet functional networks with behavior unlike that observed in more rigid inorganic frameworks.