Earth-abundant metal catalysts are critically needed for sustainable and efficient chemical synthesis. We developed a simple, cheap and effective strategy of preparing novel earth-abundant metal catalysts at metal–organic framework (MOF) nodes for broad-scope organic transformations. The straightforward metalation of MOF inorganic nodes, either Zr6O4(OH)4 or Zr8O8(OH)4, with cobalt and iron precursors affords highly active and reusable single-site solid catalysts for a range of organic reactions, including chemoselective borylation, silylation and amination of benzylic C–H bonds, as well as hydrogenation of alkenes, ketones, imines and heterocycles. Our structural, spectroscopic and kinetic studies suggest that catalytic transformations occur on site-isolated and coordinatively unsaturated metal centers at the inorganic nodes. MOFs thus provide a novel platform for the development of highly active base metal catalysts for the sustainable synthesis of fine chemicals. Also, through comparision of different Zr-O-Co systems, we learned lessons that could inspire design and improvement of current metal-oxide supported catalysts.

Metal-organic frameworks nodes for earth-abundant metal catalysis

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.