Methyl-Substituted α-Cyclodextrin as Affinity Material for Storage, Separation, and Detection of Trichlorofluoromethane.

The severely ozone-depleting trichlorofluoromethane is still appearing in several recycling processes or industrial applications. A simple and selective supramolecular complex formation of per-methylated α-cyclodextrin (1) with the highly volatile trichlorofluoromethane (2) is reported. This interaction moreover leads to thermally stable crystals. Per-methylated α-cyclodextrin is successfully exploited as a reversible and selective adsorption material for liquid and airborne trichlorofluoromethane as well as an affinity material for the chemical sensing and detection of this particular volatile organic component.