Efficient removal and separation of chemicals from the environment has become a vital issue from a biological and environmental point of view. Currently, adsorptive removal/separation is one of the most promising approaches for cleaning purposes. Selective adsorption/removal of various sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds, olefins, and pi-electron-rich gases via pi-complex formation between an adsorbent and adsorbate molecules is very competitive. Porous metal-organic framework (MOF) materials are very promising in the adsorption/separation of various liquids and gases owing to their distinct characteristics. This review summarizes the literature on the adsorptive removal/separation of various pi-electron-rich compounds mainly from fuel and gases using MOF materials containing metal ions that are active for pi-complexation. Details of the pi-complexation, including mechanism, pros/cons, applications, and efficient ways to form the complex, are discussed systematically. For in-depth understanding, molecular orbital calculations regarding charge transfer between the pi-complexing species are also explained in a separate section. From this review, readers will gain an understanding of pi-complexation for adsorption and separation, especially with MOFs, to develop new insight for future research. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.