Hindered rotation of methane molecules in the one-dimensional nanochannel of a porous coordination polymer

The crystal structure of a microporous coordination polymer with adsorbed methane gas was determined by in situ synchrotron powder diffraction of the gas adsorption and the MEM (maximum entropy method)/Rietveld method. Methane molecules were found to be adsorbed forming a one-dimensional array in the nanochannels of the polymer. The MEM charge density distribution of the adsorbed methane molecules indicated some protrusions which were not observed in that of a spherical atom of adsorbed argon. This was interpreted as a mixed distribution of two uniaxially rotating molecules with different pivotal axes. The methane molecules displayed hindered rotation depending on the shape of the nanopore surface. This result indicates the capability to control the molecular arrangement and orientation by the adsorption of gas molecules on the precisely designed nanopores of coordination polymers.