The development of efficient technologies
to adsorb volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) is desirable given their adverse effects on human
health and the environment. Herein, we report a crystalline material
formed by intermolecular hydrogen bonds among bis(benzimidazole)NiCl2 complexes, where bis(benzimidazole) is phenylbis(benzimidazol-2-yl)methane),
in conjunction with π–π stacking interactions as
an adsorbent for polar VOCs such as ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic
acids, esters, and chloroalkanes. The adsorbent maintains its single-crystalline
state during the adsorption of the polar VOCs. A single-crystal X-ray
diffraction study revealed that the intermolecular hydrogen bonds
are the driving force for adsorption. We also found that the adsorption
of oxygenated compounds (e.g., ethers, aldehydes, ketones, and esters)
is more favorable than that of chloroalkanes such as chloroform and
dichloromethane. Thus, this material can be used as an adsorbent for
polar VOCs and as a separation material.