Reduced-Symmetry\nLigand Constructed Y‑Based\nMetal–Organic Framework for Inverse Propane/Propylene Separation

The rational design of organic ligands is crucial in\nthe development\nof new metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) to enrich the structural\ndiversity and application potential of MOFs. For example, tuning the\nligand symmetry has been widely utilized in the construction of new\nMOFs with specific properties. Herein, a novel Y-based MOF (denoted\nas NU-60) was generated by selecting a tritopic carboxylate ligand\nwith reduced symmetry. Compared with its tritopic counterpart with\n relatively high symmetry, NU-60 has a new (3,12)-connected topology,\nhighlighting the power of the ligand desymmetrization method to enrich\nMOF structural diversity. Gas adsorption studies demonstrated that\nNU-60 is a propane-selective adsorbent for efficient propane/propylene\nseparation.