Metal–Organic Framework (MOF)-Based Materials as Heterogeneous Catalysts for C−H Bond Activation

Converting light hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane, propane, and cyclohexane into value-added chemicals and fuel products by means of direct C−H functionalization is an attractive method in the petrochemical industry. As they emerge as a relatively new class of porous solid materials, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are appealing as single-site heterogeneous catalysts or catalytic supports for C−H bond activation. In contrast to the traditional microporous and mesoporous materials, MOFs feature high porosity, functional tunability, and molecular-level characterization for the study of structure–property relationships. These virtues make MOFs ideal platforms to develop catalysts for C−H activation with high catalytic activity, selectivity, and recyclability under relatively mild reaction conditions. This review highlights the research aimed at the implementation of MOFs as single-site heterogeneous catalysts for C−H bond activation. It provides insight into the rational design and synthesis of three types of stable MOF catalysts for C−H bond activation, that is, i) metal nodes as catalytic sites, ii) the incorporation of catalytic sites into organic struts, and iii) the incorporation of catalytically active guest species into pores of MOFs. Here, the rational design and synthesis of MOF catalysts that lead to the distinct catalytic property for C−H bond activation are discussed along with the post-synthesis of MOFs, intriguing functions with MOF catalysts, and microenvironments that lead to the distinct catalytic properties of MOF catalysts.     

Engineering Metal–Organic Framework Catalysts for C−C and C−X Coupling Reactions: Advances in Reticular Approaches from 2014–2018

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of crystalline porous materials that have been actively used for several industrial and synthetic applications. MOFs are spatially and geometrically extrapolated coordination polymers with intriguing properties such as tunable porosity and dimensionality. In terms of their catalytic efficiency, MOFs combine the easy recoverability of heterogeneous catalysts with the increased selectivity of biological catalysts. It is therefore not surprising that a lot of work on optimizing MOF catalysts for organic transformations has been carried out over the past decade. In this review, recent developments in MOF catalysis are summarized, with special attention being paid to C−C, C−N, and C−O coupling reactions. The influence of pore size, pore environment, and load on catalytic activity is described. Post-synthetic stabilization techniques and host–guest interactions in caged MOF scaffolds are detailed. Mechanistic aspects pertaining to the use of MOFs in asymmetric heterogeneous catalysis are highlighted and categorized.     

Experimental Evidence for the Incorporation of Two Metals at Equivalent Lattice Positions in Mixed-Metal Metal–Organic Frameworks

Metal–organic frameworks containing multiple metals distributed over crystallographically equivalent framework positions (mixed-metal MOFs) represent an interesting class of materials, since the close vicinity of isolated metal centers often gives rise to synergistic effects. However, appropriate characterization techniques for detailed investigations of these mixed-metal metal–organic framework materials, particularly addressing the distribution of metals within the lattice, are rarely available. The synthesis of mixed-metal FeCuBTC materials in direct syntheses proved to be difficult and only a thorough characterization using various techniques, like powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, unambiguously evidenced the formation of a mixed-metal FeCuBTC material with HKUST-1 structure, which contained bimetallic Fe−Cu paddlewheels as well as monometallic Cu−Cu and Fe−Fe units under optimized synthesis conditions. The in-depth characterization showed that other synthetic procedures led to impurities, which contained the majority of the applied iron and were impossible or difficult to identify using solely standard characterization techniques. Therefore, this study shows the necessity to characterize mixed-metal MOFs extensively to unambiguously prove the incorporation of both metals at the desired positions. The controlled positioning of metal centers in mixed-metal metal–organic framework materials and the thorough characterization thereof is particularly important to derive structure–property or structure–activity correlations.     

Ultrahigh CO2 adsorption capacity on carbon molecular sieves at room temperature

Although metal-organic framework (MOF) materials have been postulated as superior to any other sorbent for CO(2) adsorption at room temperature, here we prove that the appropriate selection of the raw material and the synthesis conditions allows the preparation of carbon molecular sieves (CMSs) with adsorption capacity, on a volumetric basis, highly exceeding those reported in the literature for MOFs. Furthermore, the excellent sorption properties of CMSs over the whole pressure range (up to 50 bar) are fully reversible after different adsorption/desorption cycles.     

金属有机骨架HKUST-1及其衍生材料在催化中的应用进展

金属有机骨架材料(MOFs)作为异相催化剂受到了日益广泛的关注。在众多经典MOFs结构中，HKUST-1及其衍生材料是研究最多的类型之一。HKUST-1具有原料简单、易于合成、结构稳定、孔隙率高等多种优点，在异相催化领域中具有广阔的应用前景。已有多种HKUST-1相关材料被用作催化剂，包括HKUST-1本身、缺陷型结构、负载活性客体分子的复合型材料以及HKUST-1衍生的多孔碳纳米材料等。本文围绕HKUST-1作为催化剂的结构设计以及在不同催化反应中的应用展开总结与介绍，以期为相关MOFs材料的设计和催化研究提供一定参考。     

Hydrophobic Metal−Organic Frameworks and Derived Composites for Microelectronics Applications

The extraordinary characteristic features of metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) make them applicable for use in a variety of fields but their conductivity in microelectronics over a wide relative humidity (RH) range has not been extensively explored. To achieve good performance, MOFs must be stable in water, i. e., under humid conditions. However, the design of ultrastable hydrophobic MOFs with high conductivity for use in microelectronics as conducting and dielectric materials remains a challenge. In this Review, we discuss applications of an emerging class of hydrophobic MOFs with respect to their use as active sensor coatings, tunable low-κ dielectrics and conductivity, which provide high-level roadmap for stimulating the next steps toward the development and implementation of hydrophobic MOFs for use in microelectronic devices. Several methodologies including the incorporation of long alkyl chain and fluorinated linkers, doping of redox-active 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), the use of guest molecules, and conducting polymers or carbon materials in the pores or surface of MOFs have been utilized to produce hydrophobic MOFs. The contact angle of a water droplet and a coating can be used to evaluate the degree of hydrophobicity of the surface of a MOF. These unique advantages enable hydrophobic MOFs to be used as a highly versatile platform for exploring multifunctional porous materials. Classic representative examples of each category are discussed in terms of coordination structures, types of hydrophobic design, and potential microelectronic applications. Lastly, a summary and outlook as concluding remarks in this field are presented. We envision that future research in the area of hydrophobic MOFs promise to provide important breakthroughs in microelectronics applications.     

BiOCl/UiO‐66 composite with enhanced performance for photo‐assisted degradation of dye from water

Semiconductor‐based photocatalysis is an environmental friendly and cost‐effective technique for water treatment. Due to their unique properties, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered as ideal platform to develop composite photocatalyst. In this study, Bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) was first attempt to be incorporated with highly stable MOFs, UiO‐66(Zr) by hydrothermal reaction. Different characterization methods including X‐ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscope, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy had been used to prove the successful synthesis of composite photocatalyst. The resultant BiOCl/UiO‐66 composite showed higher photodegradation performance of Rhodamine B (RhB) under ultraviolet and visible light irradiation than that of pristine materials and their mechanically mixed sample. In addition, the composite exhibited good structural stability and reusability. The photocatalytic mechanism of RhB degradation over the composite under visible light proceeded via a photosensitization process. A better adsorptivity of RhB and effective electron transfer within the hybrid material might be responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic performance.     

Spray-Coating of Catalytically Active MOF–Polythiourea through Postsynthetic Polymerization

A UiO-66-NCS MOF was formed by postsynthetic modification of UiO-66-NH₂. The UiO-66-NCS MOFs displays a circa 20-fold increase in activity against the chemical warfare agent simulant dimethyl-4-nitrophenyl phosphate (DMNP) compared to UiO-66-NH₂, making it the most active MOF materials using a validated high-throughput screening. The −NCS functional groups provide reactive handles for postsynthetic polymerization of the MOFs into functional materials. These MOFs can be tethered to amine-terminated polypropylene polymers (Jeffamines) through a facile room-temperature synthesis with no byproducts. The MOFs are then crosslinked into a MOF–polythiourea (MOF–PTU) composite material, maintaining the catalytic properties of the MOF and the flexibility of the polymer. This MOF–PTU hybrid material was spray-coated onto Nyco textile fibers, displaying excellent adhesion to the fiber surface. The spray-coated fibers were screened for the degradation of DMNP and showed durable catalytic reactivity.     

不同Al源和Zr源对完全液相法制备的Cu-Zn-Al-Zr催化性能的影响

采用完全液相法,分别以无机和有机Al源和Zr源制备了3个Cu-Zn-Al-Zr浆状催化剂,并采用X射线衍射、X射线光电子能谱和程序升温还原等手段对催化剂进行了表征,考察了催化剂在合成气一步法合成二甲醚反应中的催化性能.结果表明,不同Al源对催化剂的性能有显著影响,而不同Zr源对催化剂性能的影响不大.以异丙醇铝为原料制备的催化剂的活性明显高于以拟薄水铝石为原料制备的催化剂.以异丙醇铝为Al源制备的催化剂,其Cu组分粒度小、分散性好,Cu-Zr之间的相互作用较强.Al源中微量杂质Na的存在和Cu-Zr之间相互作用的强弱是导致催化剂性能差异的主要原因.     

机械化学法制备金属-有机骨架及其复合物研究进展

金属-有机骨架(MOFs)是由金属离子/簇和多齿状有机配体通过配位键桥联而形成的多孔晶态材料。MOFs材料具有孔隙率高、比表面积大、尺寸可调、结构易修饰、功能多样化等特点,使其在气体吸附、分离和催化等方面都具有潜在应用价值。到目前为止,在MOFs合成的几种常见方法中,机械化学法(即在无溶剂或极少量溶剂的情况下研磨固体反应物进行的反应)作为一种清洁、绿色、高效的合成手段逐渐引起人们的关注。本综述总结了近年来机械化学合成MOFs及其复合物的典型进展,目的是为机械化学法合成MOFs及其复合材料提供一个通用而易于理解的概述。目前的研究进展表明,机械化学法是一种实用且环境友好的合成方法,为低成本、宏量生产MOFs及其复合物提供了可能。     

Stereoselective Halogenation of Integral Unsaturated C‐C Bonds in Chemically and Mechanically Robust Zr and Hf MOFs

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) containing Zr^IV‐based secondary building units (SBUs), as in the UiO‐66 series, are receiving widespread research interest due to their enhanced chemical and mechanical stabilities. We report the synthesis and extensive characterisation, as both bulk microcrystalline and single crystal forms, of extended UiO‐66 (Zr and Hf) series MOFs containing integral unsaturated alkene, alkyne and butadiyne units, which serve as reactive sites for postsynthetic modification (PSM) by halogenation. The water stability of a Zr–stilbene MOF allows the dual insertion of both ?OH and ?Br groups in a single, aqueous bromohydrination step. Quantitative bromination of alkyne‐ and butadiyne‐containing MOFs is demonstrated to be stereoselective, as a consequence of the linker geometry when bound in the MOFs, while the inherent change in hybridisation and geometry of integral linker atoms is facilitated by the high mechanical stabilities of the MOFs, allowing bromination to be characterised in a single‐crystal to single‐crystal (SCSC) manner. The facile addition of bromine across the unsaturated C?C bonds in the MOFs in solution is extended to irreversible iodine sequestration in the vapour phase. A large‐pore interpenetrated Zr MOF demonstrates an I₂ storage capacity of 279 % w/w, through a combination of chemisorption and physisorption, which is comparable to the highest reported capacities of benchmark iodine storage materials for radioactive I₂ sequestration. We expect this facile PSM process to not only allow trapping of toxic vapours, but also modulate the mechanical properties of the MOFs.     

Structural Effects in Visible‐Light‐Responsive Metal–Organic Frameworks Incorporating ortho‐Fluoroazobenzenes

The ability to control the interplay of materials with low‐energy photons is important as visible light offers several appealing features compared to ultraviolet radiation (less damaging, more selective, predominant in the solar spectrum, possibility to increase the penetration depth). Two different metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) were synthesized from the same linker bearing all‐visible ortho‐fluoroazobenzene photoswitches as pendant groups. The MOFs exhibit different architectures that strongly influence the ability of the azobenzenes to isomerize inside the voids. The framework built with Al‐based nodes has congested 1D channels that preclude efficient isomerization. As a result, local light–heat conversion can be used to alter the CO₂ adsorption capacity of the material on exposure to green light. The second framework, built with Zr nodes, provides enough room for the photoswitches to isomerize, which leads to a unique bistable photochromic MOF that readily responds to blue and green light. The superiority of green over UV irradiation was additionally demonstrated by reflectance spectroscopy and analysis of digested samples. This material offers promising perspectives for liquid‐phase applications such as light‐controlled catalysis and adsorptive separation.     

A Water-Stable Ionic MOF for the Selective Capture of Toxic Oxoanions of SeVI and AsV and Crystallographic Insight into the Ion-Exchange Mechanism

Selectively capturing toxic oxoanions of selenium and arsenic is highly desired for the remediation of hazardous waste. Ionic metal–organic frameworks (iMOFs) especially cationic MOFs (iMOF-C) as ion-exchange materials, featuring aqueous phase stability, present a robust pathway for sequestration of the oxoanions owing to their ability to prevent leaching because of their ionic nature. On account of scarcity of water-stable cationic MOFs, the capture of oxoanions of selenium and arsenic has been a major challenge and has not been investigated using iMOFs. Herein, we demonstrate large scale synthesis of cationic MOF, viz. iMOF-1C that exhibits selective capture of oxoanions of Se^VI (SeO₄²⁻) and As^V (HAsO₄²⁻) in water with a maximum sorption capacity of 100 and 85 mg g⁻¹, respectively. This represents among the highest uptake capacities observed for selenate oxoanion in MOFs. Further, the ion-exchange mechanism was directly unveiled by single crystal analysis, which revealed variable modes of host–guest binding.     

Synthesis and Mechanical Properties of sub 5-μm PolyUiO-66 Thin Films on Gold Surfaces

Metal-organic framework (MOF) thin films currently lack the mechanical stability needed for electronic device applications. Polymer-based metal-organic frameworks (polyMOFs) have been suggested to provide mechanical advantages over MOFs, however, the mechanical properties of polyMOFs have not yet been characterized. In this work, we developed a method to synthesize continuous sub-5 μm polyUiO-66(Zr) films on Au substrates, which allowed us to undertake initial mechanical property investigations. Comparisons between polyUiO-66 and UiO-66 thin films determined polyUiO-66 thin films exhibit a lower modulus but similar hardness to UiO-66 thin films. The initial mechanical characterization indicates that further development is needed to leverage the mechanical property advantages of polyMOFs over MOFs. Additionally, the demonstration in this work of a continuous surface-supported polyUiO-66 thin film enables utilization of this emerging class of polyMOF materials in sensors and devices applications.     

多孔有机骨架材料对顺式二醇化合物富集分离的研究进展

基于在碱性环境下硼酸能与顺式二醇化合物可逆共价结合形成稳定的五元或六元环酯,而在酸性环境下环酯开环释放顺式二醇化合物这一特性,设计合成高效、高选择性、高富集性能的硼亲和材料的研究备受关注。近年来,许多研究工作者合成了各种类型的硼亲和材料,应用于高选择性富集顺式二醇化合物。金属有机骨架(MOFs)和共价有机骨架(COFs)由于具有孔径可调、高孔隙率、高比表面积、骨架结构可调和化学及热稳定性良好等特点,被广泛应用于色谱分离和样品前处理领域。为赋予MOFs和COFs材料对顺式二醇化合物的富集选择性,各种不同结构和不同种类的硼酸修饰的MOFs和COFs被合成出来。该综述主要是对近几年来80余篇源于科学引文索引关于硼酸功能化MOFs和COFs的种类、合成方法及其应用文章的总结,包括“金属配体-片段共组装”“合成后修饰”和“自下而上”的硼酸功能化多孔材料的修饰策略,以及硼酸功能化MOFs和COFs的种类,介绍了其在化学分析和生物分析领域的发展概况和应用前景,客观评价了硼酸功能化MOFs和COFs的区别和优缺点。该文旨在让研究人员能够充分了解近几年硼酸功能化多孔有机骨架材料的研究现状、掌握合成思路和方法,为其应用提供一定的理论指导和技术支撑,为加快硼酸功能化多孔有机骨架材料的商业化脚步贡献绵薄之力。     

A new zirconium inorganic building brick forming metal organic frameworks with exceptional stability

Porous crystals are strategic materials with industrial applications within petrochemistry, catalysis, gas storage, and selective separation. Their unique properties are based on the molecular-scale porous character. However, a principal limitation of zeolites and similar oxide-based materials is the relatively small size of the pores, typically in the range of medium-sized molecules, limiting their use in pharmaceutical and fine chemical applications. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) provided a breakthrough in this respect. New MOFs appear at a high and an increasing pace, but the appearances of new, stable inorganic building bricks are rare. Here we present a new zirconium-based inorganic building brick that allows the synthesis of very high surface area MOFs with unprecedented stability. The high stability is based on the combination of strong Zr-O bonds and the ability of the inner Zr6-cluster to rearrange reversibly upon removal or addition of mu3-OH groups, without any changes in the connecting carboxylates. The weak thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability of most MOFs is probably the most important property that limits their use in large scale industrial applications. The Zr-MOFs presented in this work have the toughness needed for industrial applications; decomposition temperature above 500 degrees C and resistance to most chemicals, and they remain crystalline even after exposure to 10 tons/cm2 of external pressure.     

Unusual Regenerable Porous Metal–Organic Framework Based on a New Triple Helical Molecular Necklace for Separating Organosulfur Compounds

Desulfurization of fuels is receiving more and more attention all over the world due to the increase of stringent environmental regulations and fuel specifications. The metal–organic framework (MOF) is a new class of crystalline materials, and high porosity, one of the most important properties of MOFs, plays a central role in the functional properties. However, the investigation of MOFs, being employed as sorbents for adsorptive desulfurization, is still scarce. In this regard, we have constructed a new 3D porous compound 1 by using rigidly designed carboxylate ligands, which, for the first time, exhibit an unusual triple molecular necklace‐like helix. The N₂ sorption isotherms of 1 show that it has a large Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area and pore volume. With the stable pore structure and appropriate pore sizes, compound 1 has been used as a sorbent for adsorptive desulfurization. The results indicate that compound 1 shows an excellent adsorption property and, more importantly, displays excellent stability, repeatability, and regenerability. Thus, the design and synthesis of targeted MOFs with appropriate pore size and increased interactions between organosulfur compounds and ligands/metals from MOFs is crucial for adsorptive desulfurization, which might be an effective guide to find an efficient and green adsorbent for desulfurization.     

分子筛和金属有机骨架材料的工业展望(英文)

Crystalline nanoporous materials serve numerous pivotal functions in industrial chemistry. They provide crucial features for in- dustrial applications, such as high surface area, uniform porosity, inter-connected pore/channel system, accessible pore volume, high adsorp- tion capacity, ion-exchange ability, enhanced catalytic activity, and shape/size selectivity. As a well-established family of nanoporous materi- als, zeolites are of vital importance for the chemical and petrochemical industries. An emerging class of porous materials called metal organic frameworks (MOFs) also offer promise in various applications. Both zeolites and MOFs can play significant roles in fields that are critical for the future of our industrialized society. In the quest for raw material change, zeolites serve as catalysts providing the required shape/size selectivity towards base chemicals. In global efforts to transition into other transportation fuels such as Hydrogen, MOFs serve as the energy storage media. In the fight against environmental pollution, zeolites not only take part in capture and abatement of harmful substances, but also offer environmentally benign alternatives for many industrial processes. In this review, an industrial perspective on the synthesis and utilization of zeolites and MOFs for current and future applications is presented.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Phosphate-Catecholate Chelated Nd(III), Zr(IV), and Al(III) Complexes

Metal phosphates are important catalysts and materials in synthesis chemistry. Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterization of phosphate-catecholate chelated Nd(III), Zr(IV) and Al(III) chlorides ( 2 – 5 ). These species are achieved via ethyl chloride elimination reaction of oxophosphoranes with corresponding metal chlorides. The product 2 – 5 represent a new serial of monometallic and bimetallic phosphate-catecholate chelated metal complexes stabilized by both P−O and catecholate-O donors. These findings pave the way for future explorations of such species in catalysis.