Ongoing Attempt on the Incorporation of Pyrazine as Pillar in the Construction of Zn(II)-Tartrate Polymeric Complex for Renewable Porous Materials

This study aims to incorporate pyrazine as pillar into the Zn(II)-tartrate complex to increase its pore size and structure thermal stability, using two different solution methods, namely direct mixing technique and layering technique. The direct mixing technique was firstly done and performed at 60 °C in a Zn(II):tartrate:pyrazine molar ratio of 1:1:2 using water-alcohol mix solvent, whereas the layering technique was done at room temperature in a molar ratio of 1:1:2 using water-alcohol mix solvent. In the layering technique, the pyrazine was firstly mixed with the Zn(II) solution and reaction at ratio of 1:1:4 was also performed in order to increase the possibility of pyrazine to be coordinated to Zn(II) metal center. A Zn(II):tartrate:pyrazine molar ratio of 1:1:0 for each method was also conducted as data comparison. Solid that yielded from all reactions were then characterized by melting point test, infrared spectroscopy, and powder-XRD. Experimental data shows that the pyrazine was not successfully incorporated into the Zn(II)-tartrate complex by both techniques. Although adding pyrazine in a higher concentration (molar ratio of 1:1:4) and mixing the pyrazine with the Zn(II) solution first before reacted with the tartaric acid was also conducted to increase the chance of gaining coordinated pyrazine, Zn(II)tartrate hydrate complex remains yielded, which was confirmed by melting points test, IR analysis, and powder-XRD analysis. Other possible methods, such as hydrothermal, need to be considered to obtain the targeted complex that has high functionality and better renewability.