Non-3d metal modulated zinc imidazolate frameworks for CO2 cycloaddition in simulated flue gas under ambient condition

Cycloaddition of CO₂ and epoxide into cyclic carbonate is one of the most efficient ways for CO₂ conversion with 100% atom-utilization. Metal–organic frameworks are a kind of potential heterogeneous catalysts, however, high temperature, high pressure, and high-purity CO₂ are still required for the reaction. Here, we report two new Zn(II) imidazolate frameworks incoporating MoO₄^2– or WO₄^2– units, which can catalyse cycloaddition of CO₂ and epichlorohydrin at room temperature and atomospheric pressure, giving 95% yield after 24 h in pure CO₂ and 98% yield after 48 h in simulated flue gas (15% CO₂ + 85% N₂), respectively. For comparison, the analogic Zn(II) imidazolate framework MAF-6 without non-3d metal oxide units showed 71% and 33% yields under the same conditions, respectively. The insightful modulation mechanisms of the MoO₄^2– unit in optimizing the electronic structure of Zn(II) centre, facilitating the rate-determined ring opening process, and minimizing the reaction activation energy, were revealed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption and computational calculations.