Microporous porphyrin solids

Catalysis at the Organic Ligands

Crystalline metal organic frameworks containing catalytically active organic linkers or ancillary ligands (i.e., catalysts at the organic ligands) are an intriguing sub‐set of heterogeneous catalysts. These catalysts are atomically defined and offer a platform to readily designed single‐site catalysts. The literature encompasses approximately fifty experimental examples from which we highlight a handful of what we perceive to be,key conceptual papers. It is clear that many of the attractive visions for MOF catalysts—including, “multi‐catalyst architectures”, “metal coordination environments that can be achieved in no other ways” and “reactivity‐defining microenvironments”—are starting to be realized.

Chemical reactions catalyzed by metalloporphyrin-based metal-organic frameworks

The synthetic versatility and the potential application of metalloporphyrins (MP) in different fields have aroused researchers' interest in studying these complexes, in an attempt to mimic biological systems such as cytochrome P-450. Over the last 40 years, synthetic MPs have been mainly used as catalysts for homogeneous or heterogeneous chemical reactions. To employ them in heterogeneous catalysis, chemists have prepared new MP-based solids by immobilizing MP onto rigid inorganic supports, a strategy that affords hybrid inorganic-organic materials. More recently, materials obtained by supramolecular assembly processes and containing MPs as building blocks have been applied in a variety of areas, like gas storage, photonic devices, separation, molecular sensing, magnets, and heterogeneous catalysis, among others. These coordination polymers, known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), contain organic ligands or complexes connected by metal ions or clusters, which give rise to a 1-, 2- or 3-D network. These kinds of materials presents large surface areas, Brønsted or redox sites, and high porosity, all of which are desirable features in catalysts with potential use in heterogeneous phases. Building MOFs based on MP is a good way to obtain solid catalysts that offer the advantages of bioinspired systems and zeolitic materials. In this mini review, we will adopt a historical approach to present the most relevant MP-based MOFs applicable to catalytic reactions such as oxidation, reduction, insertion of functional groups, and exchange of organic functions.

Formation of a metalloporphyrin-based nanoreactor by postsynthetic metal-ion exchange of a polyhedral-cage containing a metal-metalloporphyrin framework

A change for the better: Exchange of Cd(II) in the catalytically inactive framework MMPF-5 (see scheme) with Co(II) afforded a metalloporphyrin-based nanoreactor, MMPF-5(Co). This framework, consisting of small cubicuboctahedral cages, demonstrated interesting performances in the catalytic epoxidation of trans-stilbene with tBuOOH.

Light-harvesting and ultrafast energy migration in porphyrin-based metal-organic frameworks

Given that energy (exciton) migration in natural photosynthesis primarily occurs in highly ordered porphyrin-like pigments (chlorophylls), equally highly ordered porphyrin-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) might be expected to exhibit similar behavior, thereby facilitating antenna-like light-harvesting and positioning such materials for use in solar energy conversion schemes. Herein, we report the first example of directional, long-distance energy migration within a MOF. Two MOFs, namely F-MOF and DA-MOF that are composed of two Zn(II) porphyrin struts [5,15-dipyridyl-10,20-bis(pentafluorophenyl)porphinato]zinc(II) and [5,15-bis[4-(pyridyl)ethynyl]-10,20-diphenylporphinato]zinc(II), respectively, were investigated. From fluorescence quenching experiments and theoretical calculations, we find that the photogenerated exciton migrates over a net distance of up to ~45 porphyrin struts within its lifetime in DA-MOF (but only ~3 in F-MOF), with a high anisotropy along a specific direction. The remarkably efficient exciton migration in DA-MOF is attributed to enhanced π-conjugation through the addition of two acetylene moieties in the porphyrin molecule, which leads to greater Q-band absorption intensity and much faster exciton-hopping (energy transfer between adjacent porphyrin struts). The long distance and directional energy migration in DA-MOF suggests promising applications of this compound or related compounds in solar energy conversion schemes as an efficient light-harvesting and energy-transport component.

Heterotrimetallic compounds containing Mo-M-Li [M = K, Rb and Cs] clusters: synthesis, structure, bonding, aromaticity and theoretical investigations of Li2M2 [M = K and Rb] and Cs4 rings

A new polydentate fac-trioxo molybdenum complex, [MoO(3)L](3-) {LH(3) = nitrilotriacetic acid}, has been synthesized by the reaction of lithium molybdate with iminodiacetic acid. The trinegative complex anion coordinates the alkali metal cations, K(+), Rb(+) or Cs(+). The potassium, rubidium and cesium complexes, [Li{K(H(2)O)(2)}MoO(3)L](n) (1), [Li{Rb(H(2)O)(2)}MoO(3)L](n) (2) and [Cs{Li(H(2)O)}(2)MoO(3)L](n) (3), form heterotrimetallic coordination chains, containing planar rings of Li(2)M(2) (M = K or Rb) and Cs(4). Theoretical investigations on these rings were carried out using NICS calculations and ab initio ring current maps, revealing aromaticity to be of limited significance.

Photophysical studies of Ru(II)tris(2,2'-bipyridine) confined within a Zn(II)-trimesic acid polyhedral metal-organic framework

The ability to confine photoactive catalysts within metal-organic framework (MOF) materials affords the opportunity to expand the functional diversity of these materials into solar based applications. Here, the confinement of Ru(II)tris(2,2'-bipyridine) (RuBpy) by a MOF material derived from Zn(II) ions and trimesic acid (hereafter, USF2) is examined. Although the encapsulated RuBpy could not be crystallographically resolved within the MOF framework, the photophysical properties of the complex are characteristic of confinement including extended triplet metal-to-ligand ((3)MLCT) lifetime (τethanol = 614 ns and τUSF2 = 1.2 μs at 25 °C) and a slight hypsochromic shift in the steady-state emission spectrum relative to RuBpy in ethanol. The extended lifetime is attributed to a deactivation of a nonradiative (3)dd that is antibonding with respect to the Ru(II)-bipyridine due to a confined molecular environment. These results represent one of the first examples of RuBpy encapsulation and photophysical characterization within a polyhedral MOF material.

A new layered metal-organic framework as a promising heterogeneous catalyst for olefin epoxidation reactions

A new layered MOF material [Co(Hoba)(2)·2H(2)O] (1) (H(2)oba = 4,4'-oxybis(benzoic acid)) has been synthesized and used as a highly recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for olefin epoxidation reactions. Both high conversion (96%) and high selectivity of epoxide products (96%) are achieved.

Immobilization of anionic iron(III) porphyrins onto in situ obtained zinc oxide

A family of anionic iron(III) porphyrins (FePor) was immobilized onto zinc oxide (ZnO) obtained by the in situ hydrothermal decomposition of zinc hydroxide nitrate, a layered hydroxide salt. The immobilization probably occurred via the interaction between the anionic charges on the porphyrins and the positively charged surface of the ZnO, in slightly acidic to neutral pH. The resulting solids were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRDP), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) (solid samples), which confirmed the formation of ZnO and the immobilization of the FePor. The prepared materials were employed as catalysts for the heterogeneous catalytic oxidation of cyclooctene, cyclohexane, and n-heptane, using iodosylbenzene as the oxygen donor. Good catalytic results were achieved for all the substrates, and selectivity for the alcohol was verified during the oxidation of alkanes. The reuse capacity of the solid catalyst was also investigated.

Synthesis and characterization of new tetra-substituted porphyrins with exo-donor carboxylic groups as building blocks for supramolecular architectures: Catalytic and structural studies of their metalated derivatives

We report herein the synthesis of the porphyrins 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxybiphenyl)-porphyrin (H2TCBP) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxy-2,6-dimethylbiphenyl)porphyrin (H2TCDMBP) bearing diphenyl units on meso-positions, and of their cobalt and silver derivatives. The silver complexes of H2TCDMBP and of H2TCPP ( H2TCPP = 5 ,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin) were investigated by X-ray crystallography and their supramolecular organization elucidated. Co(TCBP) was reacted with copper formate, yielding a polymeric compound that showed a catalytic activity in the benzylic amination of hydrocarbons using arylazide as aminating agent.