Tuning the properties of atomic crystals in the two-dimensional (2D) limit is synthetically challenging, but critical to unlock their potential in fundamental research and nanotechnology alike. 2D crystals assembled using...

PCM-102 is a new organophosphine metal–organic framework (MOF) featuring diphosphine pockets that consist of pairs of offset trans-oriented P­(III) donors. Postsynthetic addition of M­(I) salts (M = Cu, Ag, Au) to PCM-102 induces single-crystal to single-crystal transformations and the formation of trans-[P2M]+ solid-state complexes (where P = framework-based triarylphosphines). While the unmetalated PCM-102 has low porosity, the addition of secondary Lewis acids to install rigid P–M–P pillars is shown to dramatically increase both stability and selective gas uptake properties, with N2 Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface areas >1500 m2 g–1. The Ag­(I) analogue can also be obtained via a simple, one-pot peri-synthetic route and is an ideal sacrificial precursor for materials with mixed bimetallic MA/MB pillars via postsynthetic, solvent-assisted metal exchange. Notably, the M-PCM-102 family of MOFs contain periodic trans-[P2M]+ sites that are free of counter anions, unlike traditional analogous molecular complexes, since the precursor PCM-102 MOF is monoanionic, enabling access to charge-neutral metal-pillared materials. Four M-PCM-102 materials were evaluated for the separation of C2 hydrocarbons. The separation performance was found to be tunable based on the metal(s) incorporated, and density functional theory was employed to elucidate the nature of the unusual observed sorption preference, C2H2 > C2H6 > C2H4.