Highly selective carbon dioxide adsorption on exposed magnesium metals in a cross-linked organo-magnesium complex

A cross-linked organo-magnesium complex (MTF-Mg) was synthesized and investigated for selective CO2 adsorption over N-2 at 298 K. Remarkably high selectivity and reversibility were achieved with an isosteric heat of adsorption of 45.2 kJ mol(-1) for CO2, consistent with the predicted DFT value of 37.3 kJ mol(-1). The CO2 preferential adsorption arises from its strong interaction with the exposed magnesium atoms.