Tetrakis(4-sulfophenyl)methane dodecahydrate. Reversible and selective water inclusion and release in an organic host

Abstract

Infinite water helices and discrete H < inf > 2 < /inf > O-H < inf > 2 < /inf > O-SO < inf > 3 < /inf > H hydrogen bond aggregates occupy 19% unit cell volume in different channels of the title host tecton. The cooperative nature of H < inf > 2 < /inf > O-SO < inf > 3 < /inf > H H bonds and inter-connected channels correlate with higher T < inf > onset < /inf > of O4 and O5 water molecules at 149 °C compared to release of O6 H-bonded water helix from parallel channels at 114 °C. The zeolite-like organic host shows reversible water uptake and dehydration in successive heat-cool-heat cycles. © The Royal Society of Chemistry.