Synthesis and Self-Assembly of Two 1,3-Alternate Thiacalix[4]arenes Derivatives Bearing Amide Groups

Two 1,3-alternate thiacalix[4]arene derivatives bearing amide groups, 1,3-alternate p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene tetraamide （4）, and 1,3-alternate p-H-thiacalix[4]arene tetraamide （6） were prepared, and their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. The steric hindrances posed by tert-butyl groups play an important part in the synthesis and the self-assembly of the two compounds. Compound 6 was synthesized from the corresponding ester, which was obtained by the reaction of acid chloride with ammonia. In the crystal structure, compound 4 presents a highly symmetric molecular structure, while for compound 6, because of absence of tert-butyl groups, it presents a more flexible molecular structure.

Lignin derived absorbent for efficient and sustainable CO_(2) capture

High and cost-efficient capture of CO_(2) is a prerequisite and an inevitable path of carbon emission reduction. To address the challenges(high cost, low efficiency, less sustainability, etc.) of existing petroleum-based CO_(2) absorbents, herein, a class of efficient and sustainable lignin-based absorbents were resoundingly prepared by grafting the active amine group on a lignin derived compound vanillin and alkali lignin. The results demonstrated that vanillin modified by acrylamide achieved the excellent absorption capacity among the three absorbents, whose ability was 0.114 g CO_(2) per gram of absorbent under 25 ℃ and 100 kPa. In addition, the absorbent retained stable absorbability of CO_(2) after 6 cycles.The absorbing capacity of the absorbent formed by the coupling of vanillin and acrylamide to CO_(2) was much greater than their own(i.e. 0 g CO_(2) ·g^(-1)vanillin, 0.01 g CO_(2) ·g^(-1) acrylamide, respectively).Detailed information revealed the multi-site synergistic absorption mechanism, in which CO_(2) has C and O double interactions with the amide group of the absorbent, and single interaction with the hydroxyl oxygen on the benzene ring of the absorbent. The absorption capacity of modified lignin for CO_(2) is as high as 0.12 g CO_(2) per gram of absorbent, which is comparable with that of model compound vanillin.This work not only provides a new idea for the design of bio-absorbents for CO_(2) capture, but explores the application potential of lignin-based materials.

Efficient CO_2/N_2 separation by mixed matrix membrane with amide functionalized porous coordination polymer filler

Mixed matrix membrane used to selective removal of CO2 was considered as an efficient solution to energy and environmental sustainability. In this study, a MMM that consists of amide functionalized porous coordination polymer filler（MIL-53-NH2） was successfully prepared, which sharply promotes the CO2/N2 selectivity from 44（neat polymeric membrane） to 75. Remarkably, the positive effect of amide group and nanochannel of MIL-53-NH2 filler was illustrated by decreased selectivity of the MMM with formic acid modified MIL-53-NH2 filler（MIL-53-NHCOH）.