Materials for selective trapping of carbon monoxide

1. A silica gel composition comprising a compound of formula G(Y) α , wherein:

G is an organometallic cation of formula (II′),

R 1 , R 2 , R 2 , and R 4 are identical or different radicals each independently selected from the group consisting of:

i) hydrogen atoms,

ii) linear or branched alkyl radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms,

iii) unsubstituted phenyl radicals, and

iv) substituted phenyl radicals substituted by one or more identical or different radical each independently selected from the group consisting of vinyl, hydroxyl, nitro, amino, cyano, carboxyl, bromo, chloro, fluoro, iodo, benzyloxy, and hydroxymethyl radicals,

linear or branched alkyl radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said alkyl radicals unsubstituted or substituted by one or more bromo, chloro, fluoro or iodo group, and

linear or branched alkyloxy radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said alkyloxy radicals unsubstituted or substituted by one or more bromo, chloro, fluoro or iodo group,

R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , and R 8 , are identical or different radicals each independently selected from the group consisting of:

i) hydrogen atoms, and

ii) linear or branched alkyl radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and

R a , R b , and R c are identical or different radicals each independently selected from the group consisting of:

i) hydrogen atoms,

ii) unsubstituted phenyl radicals, and

iii) substituted phenyl radicals substituted by one or more identical or different radical each independently selected from the group consisting of vinyl, hydroxyl, nitro, amino, cyano, carboxyl, bromo, chloro, fluoro, iodo, benzyloxy, and hydroxymethyl radicals,

linear or branched alkyl radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said alkyl radical being unsubstituted or substituted by one or more bromo, chloro, fluoro or iodo groups, and

linear or branched alkyloxy radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said alkyloxy radical being unsubstituted or substituted by one or more bromo, chloro, fluoro or iodo group,

and wherein, at least one of R a , R b , and R c is an unsubstituted phenyl radical or a substituted phenyl radical;

M is at least one metal cation selected from the group consisting of cobalt, rhodium, iridium, manganese, iron, ruthenium, and osmium;

Y is an organic or inorganic anion; and

α is an integer or decimal number such that the compound of formula G(Y) α is electrically neutral,

wherein the compound of formula G(Y) α is covalently bonded to a silica gel via spacer arms, and said spacer arms are divalent radicals bonded to a 2-, 3-, or 4-position of said at least one R a , R b , or R c phenyl radical and to a free silanol functional group (Si—O) of said silica gel.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of Fe(III) and Co(III).

3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said divalent radical is selected from the group consisting of:

—CH═CH—, —NH—(CH 2 ) n -, —O—(CH 2 ) m -, and —NH(C═O)—CH 2 —NH—(CH 2 ) p -, and

n, m, and p are identical or different integers independently in a range of 0 to 4.

4. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein,

R a , R b , and R c are unsubstituted or substituted phenyl radicals,

said substituted phenyl radical being substituted at the 2-, 3-, or 4-position by a monovalent radical having an end group comprising —Si(OR 14 ) 3 , and

R 14 a radical selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl radicals.

5. The composition according to claim 4 , wherein said monovalent radical is selected from the group consisting of:

—CH═CH—Si(OR 14 ) 3 , —NH—(CH2) n -Si(OR 14 ) 3 , —O—(CH2) m -Si(OR 14 ) 3 , and —NH(C═O)—CH 2 —NH—(CH 2 ) p —Si(OR 14 ) 3 , and

n, m, and p are identical or different integers independently in a range of 0 to 4.

6. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the silica gel is a sol-gel material or a mesoporous silica gel.

7. The composition according to claim 6 , wherein said divalent radical is selected from the group consisting of:

—CH═CH—, —NH—(CH 2 ) n —, —O—(CH 2 ) m —, and —NH(C═O}—CH 2 — NH—(CH 2 ) p —, and

n, m, and p are identical or different integers independently in a range of 0 to 4.

8. A process for removing carbon monoxide from a gas mixture, comprising:

i) contacting said gas mixture with a composition according to claim 1 ; and

ii) adsorbing the carbon monoxide on the compound.

9. The process according to claim 8 , wherein said compound is bonded to at least one component selected from the group consisting of: silica, sol-gel, and mesoporous silica.

10. The process according to claim 8 , wherein the carbon monoxide is removed from a gas mixture comprising hydrogen.