Separation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using M[Al2Et6X] Complexes

Abstract
Complexes of the type M[Al2Et6X] (where M = NMe4, C6H8N, K, Cs; X = SCN, Cl, N3) selectively interact with aromatic substrates to form liquid clathrates in the presence of nonaromatic hydrocarbons. This phenomenon was used to separate aromatics from nonaromatics. Good separation factors (β) of 2.6 to 11.5 were observed. The separation of m-xylene from p-xylene was also attempted using M[Al2Et6X] complexes [M = NEt4, NPr4, NBu4, N(pentyl)4, N(Me)3Ph, C6H8N, NEt3(allyl), N2(CH2)2(CH3)6; X = I, Br, Cl, NO3]. However, in no case was selective complexation observed.