Iron-Based Metal–Organic Framework with Hydrophobic Quadrilateral Channels for Highly Selective Separation of Hexane Isomers

A novel iron-based microporous metal–organic framework built of trinuclear iron clusters [Fe3(μ3-O)(COO)6] and 2,2-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)-hexafluoropropane (6FDCA) has been prepared by solvothermal synthesis. It exhibits excellent chemical stability and strong hydrophobic character. More importantly, this material is capable of separating hexane isomers with good separation performance on the basis of a kinetically controlled process, making it a promising candidate for improving the research octane number of gasoline.