| Abstract: | A novel strategy is developed to encapsulate metallophthalocyanines (MPcs, M = Cu, Ni and Co) into MIL‐101 to give MPcs@MIL‐101 via in situ synthesis of MPcs from component fragments in 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bromide as an ionic liquid. This strategy overcomes some drawbacks of existing methods for encapsulation of MPcs into metal–organic frameworks. The chemical and structural properties of MPcs@MIL‐101 were determined using scanning electron microscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction, and Fourier transformation infrared and flame atomic absorption spectroscopies. The results showed that CuPc@MIL‐101, which was used as a ‘ship‐in‐a‐bottle’ catalyst, demonstrates excellent catalytic performance in the oxidative amidation of aldehydes with amine salts. It is confirmed that CuPc@MIL‐101 can be reused up to five times without significant loss of its activity. |
