Cages for Chemical Separations
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Fine chemicals are used as building blocks for many of the products that we rely upon, from pharmaceuticals to plastics. These molecules are isolated from mixtures that are often derived from petroleum. This isolation process can be challenging, generally involving distillation, a process which requires substantial energy input. A key aim of this project is to develop a new and more energy-efficient separation technology involving metal-organic cages. These cages are known to encapsulate various small organic compounds based on size and shape. The current project will develop new means of programming the behaviour of these cages, so that they will pick up and release these 'guest' molecules in response to the stimuli of light and heat. These cages will then be built into systems that enable cages to pick up high-value molecules from feedstocks, such as petroleum. The cages and cargoes will be pumped into a space where their molecular cargo is released in pure form, allowing the cages to be recycled in a closed-loop purification process. We anticipate that this process will allow the separation of valuable molecules with higher energy efficiency and lower cost than current methods.
Planned Impact
As it will directly address the high energy cost of chemical purification, our research will have an impact on industry and the general public.
Industry: Our research will develop a new chemical purification method, benefiting chemical industry, its sub-sectors and the UK chemical supply chains. Our aim is to isolate small organic compounds with a higher selectivity at lower energy cost and minimise carbon dioxide emissions. Intellectual property (IP) will be protected and exploited in accordance with the policy of the University of Cambridge. After the protection of all relevant IP, dissemination will be through publication in high impact journals and presentation at national and international conferences.
General Public: Attention from the public to supramolecular chemistry has been increasing in recent years with the recognition of potential technological applications such as new materials. Our group's work has been highlighted in international journals (including Nature and Science). By addressing a key current societal challenge, we aim to mitigate the damage being done to the climate by excessive energy use and CO2 emission during chemical purification.
Industry: Our research will develop a new chemical purification method, benefiting chemical industry, its sub-sectors and the UK chemical supply chains. Our aim is to isolate small organic compounds with a higher selectivity at lower energy cost and minimise carbon dioxide emissions. Intellectual property (IP) will be protected and exploited in accordance with the policy of the University of Cambridge. After the protection of all relevant IP, dissemination will be through publication in high impact journals and presentation at national and international conferences.
General Public: Attention from the public to supramolecular chemistry has been increasing in recent years with the recognition of potential technological applications such as new materials. Our group's work has been highlighted in international journals (including Nature and Science). By addressing a key current societal challenge, we aim to mitigate the damage being done to the climate by excessive energy use and CO2 emission during chemical purification.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Jonathan Nitschke (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Jahovic I
(2021)
Cages meet gels: Smart materials with dual porosity
in Matter
McTernan CT
(2021)
Selective Anion Binding Drives the Formation of AgI8L6 and AgI12L6 Six-Stranded Helicates.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Yang Y
(2021)
A curved host and second guest cooperatively inhibit the dynamic motion of corannulene.
in Nature communications
Yang D
(2021)
Glucose Binding Drives Reconfiguration of a Dynamic Library of Urea-Containing Metal-Organic Assemblies.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Zhang D
(2021)
Metal-organic cages for molecular separations.
in Nature reviews. Chemistry
Zhu J
(2021)
Kinetics of Toehold-Mediated DNA Strand Displacement Depend on FeII4L4 Tetrahedron Concentration.
in Nano letters
Greenfield JL
(2021)
Electrically Induced Mixed Valence Increases the Conductivity of Copper Helical Metallopolymers.
in Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
Zhu JL
(2021)
A Cavity-Tailored Metal-Organic Cage Entraps Gases Selectively in Solution and the Amorphous Solid State.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Yang D
(2021)
Glucose Binding Drives Reconfiguration of a Dynamic Library of Urea-Containing Metal-Organic Assemblies
in Angewandte Chemie
Heard AW
(2021)
A ravel alliance.
in Nature chemistry
Nguyen B
(2021)
Coordination Cages Selectively Transport Molecular Cargoes Across Liquid Membranes
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Zheng J
(2022)
Host Spin-Crossover Thermodynamics Indicate Guest Fit
in Angewandte Chemie
Zheng J
(2022)
Host Spin-Crossover Thermodynamics Indicate Guest Fit.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
McTernan CT
(2022)
Beyond Platonic: How to Build Metal-Organic Polyhedra Capable of Binding Low-Symmetry, Information-Rich Molecular Cargoes.
in Chemical reviews
Xue W
(2022)
Solvent Drives Switching between ? and ? Metal Center Stereochemistry of M8L6 Cubic Cages.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Greenfield JL
(2022)
Self-Assembly of Double-Helical Metallopolymers.
in Accounts of chemical research
Carpenter JP
(2022)
Incorporation of a Phosphino(pyridine) Subcomponent Enables the Formation of Cages with Homobimetallic and Heterobimetallic Vertices.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Zhang D
(2022)
Templation and Concentration Drive Conversion Between a FeII12L12 Pseudoicosahedron, a FeII4L4 Tetrahedron, and a FeII2L3 Helicate.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Gorman J
(2022)
Deoxyribonucleic Acid Encoded and Size-Defined p-Stacking of Perylene Diimides.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Greenfield J
(2022)
Self-Assembly of Double-Helical Metallopolymers.
Zheng J
(2022)
Host Spin-Crossover Thermodynamics Indicate Guest Fit
Benchimol E
(2022)
Transformation networks of metal-organic cages controlled by chemical stimuli.
in Chemical Society reviews
Davies J
(2022)
Twisted rectangular subunits self-assemble into a ferritin-like capsule
in Chem
Lu Z
(2022)
The fullerene awakens
in Chem
Zheng J
(2022)
Host Spin-Crossover Thermodynamics Indicate Guest Fit.
Lu Z
(2023)
Enantioselective fullerene functionalization through stereochemical information transfer from a self-assembled cage.
in Nature chemistry
Heckelmann I
(2023)
Supramolecular Self-Assembly as a Tool To Preserve the Electronic Purity of Perylene Diimide Chromophores**
in Angewandte Chemie
Xue W
(2023)
Allosterically Regulated Guest Binding Determines Framework Symmetry for an Fe II 4 L 4 Cage
in Angewandte Chemie
Liu H
(2023)
Anionic Templates Drive Conversion between a Zn II 9 L 6 Tricapped Trigonal Prism and Zn II 6 L 4 Pseudo-Octahedra
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Jahovic I
(2023)
Capture of Singlet Oxygen Modulates Host-Guest Behavior of Coordination Cages.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Ghosh A
(2023)
Light-Powered Reversible Guest Release and Uptake from Zn4L4 Capsules.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Zheng J
(2023)
Redox Triggers Guest Release and Uptake Across a Series of Azopyridine-Based Metal-Organic Capsules.
in Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
Davies J
(2023)
Tetramine Aspect Ratio and Flexibility Determine Framework Symmetry for Zn 8 L 6 Self-Assembled Structures
in Angewandte Chemie
Li G
(2023)
Enantiopure FeII4L4 cages bind steroids stereoselectively
in Chem
Davies JA
(2023)
Tetramine Aspect Ratio and Flexibility Determine Framework Symmetry for Zn8 L6 Self-Assembled Structures.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Clark S
(2023)
A Double-Walled Tetrahedron with Ag I 4 Vertices Binds Different Guests in Distinct Sites**
in Angewandte Chemie
Ryan HP
(2023)
Quantifying the Effect of Guest Binding on Host Environment.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Heckelmann I
(2023)
Supramolecular Self-Assembly as a Tool To Preserve the Electronic Purity of Perylene Diimide Chromophores.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)