Conformational analysis of 1,2-dichloroethane adsorbed in metal-organic frameworks

This paper describes the conformational analysis of 1,2-dichloroethane adsorbed into three different metal-organic frameworks, MIL-53(Al), MIL-68(In), MIL-53-NH2(Al), by using FT-Raman spectroscopy in combination with powder XRD and TGA. For non-polar frameworks, the main guest-host interactions are van der Waal interactions between the CH bonds of 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) and the π system of terephthalate ligands. The polar framework of MIL-53-NH2 is able to stabilize the gauche conformation of DCE at room temperature. The conformational enthalpy of each system was determined through variable temperature FT-Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, the line-width of the Raman bands provides information regarding the molecular motion of the halocarbons at various temperatures inside the framework.