Dimensional Reduction of Lewis Acidic Metal-Organic Frameworks for Multicomponent Reactions

High-Entropy Lanthanide-Organic Framework as an Efficient Heterogeneous Catalyst for Cycloaddition of CO2 with Epoxides and Knoevenagel Condensation

Multimetallic synergistic effects have the potential to improve CO2 cycloesterification and Knoevenagel reaction processes, outperforming monometallic MOFs. The results demonstrate superior performance in these processes. To investigate this, we created and characterized a selection of single-component Ln(III)-MOFs (Ln=Eu, Tb, Gd, Dy, Ho) and high-entropy lanthanide-organic framework (HE-LnMOF) using solvent-thermal conditions. The experiments revealed that HE-LnMOF exhibited heightened catalytic efficiency in CO2 cycloesterification and Knoevenagel reactions compared to single-component Ln(III) MOFs. Moreover, the HE-LnMOF displayed significant stability, maintaining their structural integrity after five cycles while sustaining elevated conversion and selectivity rates. The feasible mechanisms of catalytic reactions were also discussed. HE-LnMOF possess multiple unsaturated metal centers, acting as Lewis acid sites, with oxygen atoms connecting the metal, and hydroxyl groups on the ligand serving as base sites. This study introduces a novel method for synthesizing HE-LnMOF and presents a fresh application of HE-LnMOF for converting CO2.

A Stable Site-Isolated Mono(phosphine)-Rhodium Catalyst on a Metal-Organic Layer for Highly Efficient Hydrogenation Reactions

Phosphine-ligated transition metal complexes play a pivotal role in modern catalysis, but our understanding of the impact of ligand counts on the catalysis performance of the metal center is limited. Here we report the synthesis of a low-coordinate mono(phosphine)-Rh catalyst on a metal-organic layer (MOL), P-MOL • Rh, and its applications in the hydrogenation of mono-, di-, and tri-substituted alkenes as well as aryl nitriles with turnover numbers (TONs) of up to 390000. Mechanistic investigations and density functional theory calculations revealed the lowering of reaction energy barriers by the low steric hindrance of site-isolated mono(phosphine)-Rh sites on the MOL to provide superior catalytic activity over homogeneous Rh catalysts. The MOL also prevents catalyst deactivation to enable recycle and reuse of P-MOL • Rh in catalytic hydrogenation reactions.

Variation in Catalytic Efficacies of a 2D pH-Stable MOF by Altering Activation Methods

Although it is well-known that the Lewis acidity of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) can effectively enhance their catalytic activity in organic transformations, access to these Lewis-acidic sites remains a key hurdle to widespread applications of Lewis-acidic catalysis by MOFs. Easy accessibility of strong Lewis acidic sites onto 2D MOFs by using proper activation methods can be a cornerstone in attaining desired catalytic performance. Herein, we report a new 2D chemically stable MOF, IITKGP-60, which displayed excellent framework robustness over a wide pH range (2-12). Benefiting from the abundant open metal sites (OMSs) and framework robustness, the catalytic activity of the developed material was explored in one-pot three-component Strecker reaction and Knoevenagel condensation reaction. Moreover, the developed catalyst is superior in catalyzing the reactions involving sterically hindered substrate (1-naphthaldehyde) with high turnover number. A comparative catalytic study was conducted using different activation methods (chloroform and methanol exchanged activated samples), highlighting the significant effect of activation methods on its catalytic performances. The sustainable synthetic pathway under solvent-free conditions for a broad scope of substrates using low catalyst loading and excellent recyclability made the developed pH-stable framework a promising heterogeneous catalyst.

Dimensional Reduction of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Photocatalytic Synthesis of Fused Tetracyclic Heterocycles

Heterogeneous palladium catalysts with high efficiency, high Pd atom utilization, simplified separation, and recycle have attracted considerable attention in the field of synthetic chemistry. Herein, we reported a zirconium-based two-dimensional metal-organic framework (2D-MOF)-based Pd(II) photocatalyst (Zr-Ir-Pd) by merging the Ir photosensitizers and Pd(II) species into the skeletons of the 2D-MOF for the Pd(II)-catalyzed oxidation reaction. Morphological and structural characterization identified that Zr-Ir-Pd with a specific nanoflower-like structure consists of ultrathin 2D-MOF nanosheets (3.85 nm). Due to its excellent visible-light response and absorption capability, faster transfer and separation of photogenerated carriers, more accessible Pd active sites, and low mass transfer resistance, Zr-Ir-Pd exhibited boosted photocatalytic activity in catalyzing sterically hindered isocyanide insertion of diarylalkynes for the construction of fused tetracyclic heterocycles, with up to 12 times the Pd catalyst turnover number than the existing catalytic systems. In addition, Zr-Ir-Pd inhibited the competitive agglomeration of Pd(0) species and could be reused at least five times, owing to the stabilization of 2D-MOF on the single-site Pd and Ir sites. Finally, a possible mechanism of the photocatalytic synthesis of fused tetracyclic heterocycles catalyzed by Zr-Ir-Pd was proposed.

Quest for a Desolvated Structure Unveils Breathing Phenomena in a MOF Leading to Greener Catalysis in a Solventless Setup: Insights from Combined Experimental and Computational Studies

The crystal structure of the metal-organic framework (MOF), {Mn2(1,4-bdc)2(DMF)2}n (1) (1,4-bdcH2, 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid; DMF, N,N-dimethylformamide), is known for a long time; however, its desolvated structure, {Mn2(1,4-bdc)2}n (1'), is not yet known. The first-principles-based computational simulation was used to unveil the structure of 1' that shows the expansion in the framework, leading to pore opening after the removal of coordinated DMF molecules. We have used 1' that contains open metal sites (OMSs) in the structure in cyanosilylation and CO2 cycloaddition reactions and recorded complete conversions in a solventless setup. The pore opening in 1' allows the facile diffusion of small aldehyde molecules into the channels, leading to complete conversion. The reactions with larger aldehydes, 2-naphthaldehyde and 9-anthracenecarboxaldehyde, also show 99.9% conversions, which are the highest reported until date in solventless conditions. The in silico simulations illustrate that larger aldehydes interact with Mn(II) OMSs on the surfaces, enabling a closer interaction and facilitating complete conversions. The catalyst shows high recyclability, exhibiting 99.9% conversions in the successive reaction cycles with negligible change in the structure. Our investigations illustrate that the catalyst 1' is economical, efficient, and robust and allows reactions in a solventless greener setup, and therefore the catalysis with 1' can be regarded as "green catalysis".

Heterogeneous Rhodium Single-Atom-Site Catalyst Enables Chemoselective Carbene N-H Bond Insertion

Transition-metal-catalyzed carbene insertion reactions of a nitrogen-hydrogen bond have emerged as robust and versatile methods for the construction of C-N bonds. While significant progress of homogeneous catalytic metal carbene N-H insertions has been achieved, the control of chemoselectivity in the field remains challenging due to the high electrophilicity of the metal carbene intermediates. Herein, we present an efficient strategy for the synthesis of a rhodium single-atom-site catalyst (Rh-SA) that incorporates a Rh atom surrounded by three nitrogen atoms and one phosphorus atom doped in a carbon support. This Rh-SA catalyst, with a catalyst loading of only 0.15 mol %, exhibited exceptional catalytic performance for heterogeneous carbene insertion with various anilines and heteroaryl amines in combination with diazo esters. Importantly, the heterogeneous catalyst selectively transformed aniline derivatives bearing multiple nucleophilic moieties into single N-H insertion isomers, while the popular homogeneous Rh2(OAc)4 catalyst produced a mixture of overfunctionalized side products. Additionally, similar selectivities for N-H bond insertion with a set of stereoelectronically diverse diazo esters were obtained, highlighting the general applicability of this heterogeneous catalysis approach. On the basis of density functional theory calculations, the observed selectivity of the Rh-SA catalyst was attributed to the insertion barriers and the accelerated proton transfer assisted by the phosphorus atom in the support. Overall, this investigation of heterogeneous metal-catalyzed carbene insertion underscores the potential of single-atom-site catalysis as a powerful and complementary tool in organic synthesis.

Defect-Induced All-Solid-State Frustrated Lewis Pair on Metal-Organic Monolayer Accelerating Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction with H2O Vapor

Understanding the structure-performance relationships of a frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) at the atomic level is key to yielding high efficiency in activating chemically "inert" molecules into value-added products. A sound strategy was developed herein through incorporating oxygen defects into a Zr-based metal-organic layer (Zr-MOL-D) and employing Lewis basic proximal surface hydroxyls for the in situ formation of solid heterogeneous FLP (Zr4-δ-VO-Zr-OH). Zr-MOL-D exhibits a superior CO2 to CO conversion rate of 49.4 μmol g-1 h-1 in water vapor without any sacrificing agent or photosensitizer, which is about 12 times higher than that of pure MOL (Zr-MOL-P), with extreme stability even after being placed for half a year. Theoretical and experimental results reveal that the introduction of FLP converts the process of the crucial intermediate COOH* from an endothermic reaction to an exothermic spontaneous reaction. This work is expected to provide new prospects for developing efficient MOL-based photocatalysts in FLP chemistry through a sound defect-engineering strategy.

Metal-Organic Layers with Photosensitizer and Pyridine Pairs Activate Alkyl Halides for Photocatalytic Heck-Type Coupling with Olefins

Photochemical generation of alkyl radicals from haloalkanes often requires strong energy input from ultraviolet light or a strong photoreductant. Haloalkanes can alternatively be activated with nitrogen-based nucleophiles through a sequential SN2 reaction and single-electron reduction to access alkyl radicals, but these two reaction steps have opposite steric requirements on the nucleophiles. Herein, we report the design of Hf12 metal-organic layers (MOLs) with iridium-based photosensitizer bridging ligands and secondary-building-unit-supported pyridines for photocatalytic alkyl radical generation from haloalkanes. By bringing the photosensitizer and pyridine pairs in proximity, the MOL catalysts allowed facile access to the pyridinium salts from SN2 reactions between haloalkanes and pyridines and at the same time enhanced electron transfer from excited photosensitizers to pyridinium salts to facilitate alkyl radical generation. Consequentially, the MOLs efficiently catalyzed Heck-type cross-coupling reactions between haloalkanes and olefinic substrates to generate functionalized alkenes. The MOLs showed 4.6 times higher catalytic efficiency than the homogeneous counterparts and were recycled and reused without a loss of catalytic activity.

Two-Dimensional Sulfonate-Functionalized Metal-Organic Framework Membranes for Efficient Lithium-Ion Sieving

Two-dimensional (2D) membranes have shown promising potential for ion-selective separation but often suffer from the trade-off between permeability and selectivity. Herein, we report an ultrathin 2D sulfonate-functionalized metal-organic framework (MOF) membrane for efficient lithium-ion sieving. The narrow pores with angstrom precision in the MOF assist hydrated ions to partially remove the hydration shell, according to different hydration energies. The abundant sulfonate groups in the MOF channels serve as hopping sites for fast lithium-ion transport, contributing to a high Li-ion permeability. Then, the difference in affinity of the Li+, Na+, K+, and Mg2+ ions to the terminal sulfonate groups further enhances the Li-ion selectivity. The reported ultrathin MOF membrane overcomes the trade-off between permeability and selectivity and opens up a new avenue for highly permselective membranes.

Lewis Acidic Metal-Organic Framework Assisted Ambient Liquid Extraction Mass Spectrometry Imaging for Enhancing the Coverage of Poorly Ionizable Lipids in Brain Tissue

The spatial distribution of lipidomes in tissues is of great importance in studies of living processes, diseases, and therapies. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has become a critical technique for spatial lipidomics. However, MSI of low-abundance or poorly ionizable lipids is still challenging because of the ion suppression from high-abundance lipids. Here, a metal-organic framework (MOF) Zr6O4(OH)4(1,3,5-Tris(4-carboxyphenyl) benzene)2(triflate)6(Zr6OTf-BTB) was prepared and used for selective on-tissue adsorption of phospholipids to reduce ion suppression from them to poorly ionizable lipids. The results show that Zr6OTf-BTB with strong Lewis acidic sites and a large specific surface area (647.9 m2·g-1) could selectively adsorb phospholipids under 1% FA-MeOH. Adsorption efficiencies of phospholipids are 88.4-144.9 times higher than those of other neutral lipids. Moreover, the adsorption capacity and the adsorption kinetic rate constant of the new material to phospholipids are higher than those of Zr6-BTB (242.72 vs 73.96 mg·g-1, 0.0442 vs 0.0220 g·mg-1·min-1). A Zr6OTf-BTB sheet was prepared by a lamination technique for on-tissue phospholipid adsorption from brain tissue. Then, the tissue section on the Zr6OTf-BTB sheet was directly imaged via ambient liquid extraction-MSI with 1% FA-MeOH as the sampling solvent. The results showed that phospholipids could be 100% removed directly on tissue, and the detection coverage of the Zr6OTf-BTB-enhanced MSI method to ceramides (Cers) and hexosylceramides (HexCers) was increased by 5-26 times compared with direct tissue MSI (26 vs 1 and 17 vs 3). The new method provides an efficient and convenient way to eliminate the ion suppression from phospholipids in MSI, largely improving the detection coverage of low-abundance and poorly ionizable lipids.

Blocking Accretion Enables Dimension Reduction of Metal-Organic Framework for Photocatalytic Performance

The evolution and formation process of two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) primarily arise from the anisotropic growth of crystals, leading to variations in photocatalytic performance. It is crucial to achieve a synergistic combination of anisotropic electron transfer direction and dimension reduction strategies. In this study, a novel approach that effectively blocks crystal growth accretion through the coordination of solvent molecules is presented, achieving the successful synthesis of impurity-free two-dimensional nanosheet Zn-PTC with exceptional hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance (15.4 mmol g-1  h-1 ). The structural and photophysical characterizations validate the successful prevention of crystal accretion, while establishing correlation between structural anisotropy and intrinsic charge transfer mode through transient spectroscopy. These findings unequivocally demonstrate that electron transfer along the [001] direction plays a pivotal role in the redox performance of nano-Zn-PTC. Subsequently, by coupling the photocatalytic performance and density functional theory (DFT) simulation calculations, the carrier diffusion kinetics is explored, revealing that effective dimension reduction along the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) direction is the key to achieving superior photocatalytic performance.

Ultra-stable MOF@MOF nanoplatform for photodynamic therapy sensitized by relieved hypoxia due to mitochondrial respiration inhibition

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with periodically arranged porphyrinic linkers avoiding the self-quenching issue of porphyrins in photodynamic therapy (PDT) have been widely applied. However, the porphyrinic MOFs still face challenges of poor stability under physiological conditions and limited photodynamic efficiency by the hypoxia condition of tumors. Herein, we fabricate the MOF@MOF structure with a protective MOF shell to improve the stability and relieve the hypoxia condition of tumors for sensitized PDT. Under protection of the MOF shell, the MOF@MOF structure can keep intact for 96 h under physiological conditions. Consequently, the tumoral accumulation efficiency is two folds of the MOF core. Furthermore, the MOF shell decomposes under acidic environment, and the loaded inhibitor of mitochondria pyruvate carrier (7-amino carboxycoumarins-2, 7ACC2) will be released. 7ACC2 inhibits the mitochondrial pyruvate influx and simultaneously blocks glucose and lactate from fueling the mitochondrial respiration, thereupon relieving the hypoxia condition of tumors. Under a 5-min laser irradiation, the 7ACC2 carrying MOF@MOF nanoplatforms induced doubled cellular apoptosis and reduced 70% of the tumor growth compared with the cargo-free MOF@MOF. In summary, the design of this stable and hypoxia self-relievable MOF@MOF nanoplatform will enlighten the future development of MOF-based nanomedicines and PDT. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Though widely used for photodynamic therapy (PDT) in previous studies, porphyrinic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) still face challenges in poor stability under physiological conditions and limited photodynamic efficiency due to the hypoxia condition of tumors. In order to solve these problems, (1) we develop the MOF@MOF strategy to improve the physiological stability; (2) an inhibitor of mitochondria pyruvate carrier, 7-amino carboxycoumarins-2 (7ACC2), is loaded to inhibit the mitochondrial pyruvate influx and simultaneously block glucose and lactate from fueling the mitochondrial respiration, thereupon relieving the hypoxia condition of tumors. In comparison with previous studies, our strategy simultaneously improves stability and overcomes the limited PDT efficiency in the hypoxia tumor tissue, which will enlighten the future development of MOF-based nanomedicines and PDT.

Three dimensional cyclic trinuclear units based metal-covalent organic frameworks for electrochemical CO2RR

A three-dimensional metal-covalent organic framework (3D-MCOF) based on cyclic trinuclear units was synthesized using organic tetrahedral linkers and copper-based cyclic trinuclear complexes. The novel type of 3D-MCOF, named 3D-CTU-MCOF, with the ctn topology, is reported herein for the first time. Our study demonstrated enhanced electrocatalytic capacity for CO2 reduction reaction of 3D-CTU-MCOF compared to independent cyclic trinuclear units.

MOFganic Chemistry: Challenges and Opportunities for Metal-Organic Frameworks in Synthetic Organic Chemistry

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous, crystalline solids constructed from organic linkers and inorganic nodes that have been widely studied for applications in gas storage, chemical separations, and drug delivery. Owing to their highly modular structures and tunable pore environments, we propose that MOFs have significant untapped potential as catalysts and reagents relevant to the synthesis of next-generation therapeutics. Herein, we outline the properties of MOFs that make them promising for applications in synthetic organic chemistry, including new reactivity and selectivity, enhanced robustness, and user-friendly preparation. In addition, we outline the challenges facing the field and propose new directions to maximize the utility of MOFs for drug synthesis. This perspective aims to bring together the organic and MOF communities to develop new heterogeneous platforms capable of achieving synthetic transformations that cannot be replicated by homogeneous systems.

Application of Zr-MOFs based copper complex in synthesis of pyrazolo[3, 4-b]pyridine-5-carbonitriles via anomeric-based oxidation

In this research article, Zr-MOFs based copper complex as a novel heterogeneous and porous catalyst was designed and prepared. The structure of catalyst has verified by various techniques such as FT-IR, XRD, SEM, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms (BET), EDS, SEM-elemental mapping, TG and DTG analysis. UiO-66-NH₂/TCT/2-amino-Py@Cu(OAc)₂ was used as an efficient catalyst in the synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carbonitrile derivatives. The aromatization of titled molecules is performed via a cooperative vinylogous anomeric-based oxidation both under air and inert atmospheres. The unique properties of the presented method are short reaction time, high yield, reusability of catalyst, synthesis of desired product under mild and green condition.

Molecular Catalysis of Energy Relevance in Metal-Organic Frameworks: From Higher Coordination Sphere to System Effects

The modularity and synthetic flexibility of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have provoked analogies with enzymes, and even the term MOFzymes has been coined. In this review, we focus on molecular catalysis of energy relevance in MOFs, more specifically water oxidation, oxygen and carbon dioxide reduction, as well as hydrogen evolution in context of the MOF-enzyme analogy. Similar to enzymes, catalyst encapsulation in MOFs leads to structural stabilization under turnover conditions, while catalyst motifs that are synthetically out of reach in a homogeneous solution phase may be attainable as secondary building units in MOFs. Exploring the unique synthetic possibilities in MOFs, specific groups in the second and third coordination sphere around the catalytic active site have been incorporated to facilitate catalysis. A key difference between enzymes and MOFs is the fact that active site concentrations in the latter are often considerably higher, leading to charge and mass transport limitations in MOFs that are more severe than those in enzymes. High catalyst concentrations also put a limit on the distance between catalysts, and thus the available space for higher coordination sphere engineering. As transport is important for MOF-borne catalysis, a system perspective is chosen to highlight concepts that address the issue. A detailed section on transport and light-driven reactivity sets the stage for a concise review of the currently available literature on utilizing principles from Nature and system design for the preparation of catalytic MOF-based materials.

Sequential Modifications of Metal-Organic Layer Nodes for Highly Efficient Photocatalyzed Hydrogen Atom Transfer

Herein, we report the synthesis of a bifunctional photocatalyst, Zr-OTf-EY, through sequential modifications of metal cluster nodes in a metal-organic layer (MOL). With eosin Y and strong Lewis acids on the nodes, Zr-OTf-EY catalyzes cross-coupling reactions between various C-H compounds and electron-deficient alkenes or azodicarboxylate to afford C-C and C-N coupling products, with turnover numbers of up to 1980. In Zr-OTf-EY-catalyzed reactions, Lewis acid sites bind the alkenes or azodicarboxylate to increase their local concentrations and electron deficiency for enhanced radical additions, while EY is stabilized by site isolation on the MOL to afford a long-lived catalyst for hydrogen atom transfer. The proximity between photostable EY sites and Lewis acids on the nodes of Zr-OTf-EY enhances the catalytic efficiency by approximately 400 times over the homogeneous counterpart in the cross-coupling reactions.

Bodipy-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks Transformed in Solid States from 1D Chains to 2D Layer Structures as Efficient Visible Light Heterogeneous Photocatalysts for Forging C-B and C-C Bonds

Boron dipyrromethene (also known as bodipy), as a class of versatile and robust fluorophores and a structural analogue of porphyrins, has received a great deal of interests in the field of light-harvesting and energy-transfer processes. However, the fabrication of bodipy monomers into metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and the exploitation of their potential still lags behind the porphyrin MOFs. In this work, two bodipy-based MOFs, BMOF 1D with 1D chain structure and BMOF 2D with 2D layer structure, were assembled by using dicarboxyl-functionalized bodipy ligands. BMOF 1D can also be converted to BMOF 2D by inserting additional ligands into BMOF 1D to cross-link the adjacent chains into the rhombic grid layer. During this process, spontaneous exfoliation occurred simultaneously and resulted in the formation of several hundred nanometer thickness BMOF 2D (nBMOF 2D), which can be further exfoliated into one-layer MOF nanosheets (BMON 2D) by using the ultrasonic liquid exfoliation method in a high yield. Featuring the distinct bodipy scaffolds in the porous frameworks, both BMOF 2D and BMON 2D displayed high reactivity and recyclability in the photocatalytic inverse hydroboration and cross-dehydrogenative coupling reactions to afford α-amino organoborons and α-amino amides in moderate to high yields. This work not only highlights the cascade utilization of ligand installation and ultrasonic liquid exfoliation methods to provide the single-layer MOF sheets in high yields but also advances the bodipy-based MOFs as a new type of heterogeneous photocatalysts in the forging of C-B and C-C bonds driven by visible light.

Molecular Engineering of Metal-Organic Layers for Sustainable Tandem and Synergistic Photocatalysis

Metal-organic layers (MOLs), a monolayered version of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), have recently emerged as a novel two-dimensional molecular material platform to design multifunctional catalysts. MOLs inherit the intrinsic molecular tunability of MOFs and yet have more accessible and modifiable building blocks. Here we report molecular engineering of six MOLs via modulated solvothermal synthesis between HfCl4 and three photosensitizing ligands followed by postsynthetic modification with two carboxylate-containing cobaloximes for tandem and synergistic photocatalysis. Morphological and structural characterization by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy and compositional analysis by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy establish the MOLs as flat nanoplates with a periodic lattice structure of hexagonal symmetry. The MOLs efficiently catalyze tandem dehydrogenative coupling reactions and synergistic Heck-type coupling reactions. The most active MOL catalyst was used for the gram-scale synthesis of vesnarinone, a cardiotonic agent, in 80% yield with a turnover number of 400 and in eight consecutive reaction cycles without significant loss of activities.

Metal Node Control of Brønsted Acidity in Heterobimetallic Titanium-Organic Frameworks

Compared to indirect framework modification, synthetic control of cluster composition can be used to gain direct access to catalytic activities exclusive of specific metal combinations. We demonstrate this concept by testing the aminolysis of epoxides with a family of isostructural mesoporous frameworks featuring five combinations of homometallic and heterobimetallic metal-oxo trimers (Fe3, Ti3, TiFe2, TiCo2, and TiNi2). Only TiFe2 nodes display activities comparable to benchmark catalysts based on grafting of strong acids, which here originate from the combination of Lewis Ti4+ and Brønsted Fe3+-OH acid sites. The applicability of MUV-101(Fe) to the synthesis of β-amino alcohols is demonstrated with a scope that also includes the gram scale synthesis of propranolol, a natural β-blocker listed as an essential medicine by the World Health Organization, with excellent yield and selectivity.

Microenvironment engineering of supported metal nanoparticles for chemoselective hydrogenation

Selective hydrogenation with supported metal catalysts widely used in the production of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals often faces a trade-off between activity and selectivity, mainly due to the inability to adjust one factor of the active sites without affecting other factors. In order to solve this bottleneck problem, the modulation of the microenvironment of active sites has attracted more and more attention, inspired by the collaborative catalytic mode of enzymes. In this perspective, we aim to summarize recent advances in the regulation of the microenvironment surrounding supported metal nanoparticles (NPs) using porous materials enriched with organic functional groups. Insights on how the microenvironment induces the enrichment, oriented adsorption and activation of substrates through non-covalent interaction and thus determines the hydrogenation activity and selectivity will be particularly discussed. Finally, a brief summary will be provided, and challenges together with a perspective in microenvironment engineering will be proposed.

Dynamic Full-Color Tuning of Organic Chromophore in a Multi-Stimuli-Responsive 2D Flexible MOF

Developing universal stimuli-responsive materials capable of emitting a broad spectrum of colors is highly desirable. Herein, we deliberately grafted a conformation-adaptable organic chromophore into the established coordination space of a flexible metal-organic framework (MOF). In terms of the coupled structural transformations and the space confinement, the chromophore in the MOF matrix underwent well-regulated conformational changes under physical and chemical stimuli, simultaneously displaying thermo-, piezo-, and solvato-fluoro-chromism with color tunability over the visible range. Owing to the resilient nature and the reduced dimensionality of the selected coordination space, all three color modulations behaved in a sensitive and self-reversible manner, each following a linear correlation of the emission maximum with stimulus. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of the variable-temperature structures and solvent-inclusion crystals elucidated the intricate color varying mechanisms.

Binuclear copper iodine cluster-based coordination sheets as photocatalysts for decarboxylative cyanation

We synthesized two new MOFs (Cu-Tpxa-1 and Cu-Tpxa-2) that were used as heterogeneous photocatalysts, combining photocatalysis and copper catalysis to achieve decarboxylative radical cyanation reactions. This new heterogeneous catalysis method optimized the redox properties and excited-state lifetimes, providing a new idea for exploring photocatalytic mechanisms.

Dimensional Reduction Enhances Photodynamic Therapy of Metal-Organic Nanophotosensitizers

Herein we report that dimensional reduction from three-dimensional nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (nMOFs) to two-dimensional nanoscale metal-organic layers (nMOLs) increases the frequency of encounters between photosensitizers and oxygen and facilitates the diffusion of singlet oxygen from the nMOL to significantly enhance photodynamic therapy. The nMOFs and nMOLs share the same M₁₂-oxo (M = Zr, Hf) secondary building units and 5,15-di-p-benzoatoporphyrin (DBP) ligands but exhibit three-dimensional and two-dimensional topologies, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations and experimental studies revealed that the nMOLs with a monolayer morphology enhanced the generation of reactive oxygen species and exhibited over an order of magnitude higher cytotoxicity over the nMOFs. In a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer, Hf-DBP nMOL showed 49.1% more tumor inhibition, an 80% higher cure rate, and 16.3-fold lower metastasis potential than Hf-DBP nMOF.

A Discrete 3d-4f Metallacage as an Efficient Catalytic Nanoreactor for a Three-Component Aza-Darzens Reaction

The exploration and development of coordination nanocages can provide an approach to control chemical reactions beyond the bounds of the flask, which has aroused great interest due to their significant applications in the field of molecular recognition, supramolecular catalysis, and molecular self-assembly. Herein, we take the advantage of a semirigid and nonsymmetric bridging ligand (H₅L) with rich metal-chelating sites to construct an unusual and discrete 3d-4f metallacage, [Zn₂Er₄(H₂L)₄(NO₃)Cl₂(H₂O)]·NO₃·xCH₃OH·yH₂O (Zn₂Er₄). The 3d-4f Zn₂Er₄ cage possesses a quadruple-stranded structure, and all of the ligands wrap around an open spherical cavity within the core. The self-assembly of the unique cage not only ensures the structural stability of the Zn₂Er₄ cage as a nanoreactor in solution but also makes the bimetallic lanthanide cluster units active sites that are exposed in the medium-sized cavity. It is important to note that the Zn₂Er₄ cage as a homogeneous catalyst has been successfully applied to catalyze three-component aza-Darzens reactions of formaldehyde, anilines, and α-diazo esters without another additive under mild conditions, displaying better catalytic activity, higher specificity, short reaction time, and low catalyst loadings. A possible mechanism for this three-component aza-Darzens reaction catalyzed by the Zn₂Er₄ cage has been proposed. These experimental results have demonstrated the great potential of the discrete 3d-4f metallacage as a host nanoreactor for the development of supramolecular or molecular catalysis.

Cellulose-reinforced poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)-supported Ag nanoparticles with excellent catalytic properties: synthesis of thioamides using the Willgerodt–Kindler reaction

Cellulose, a bio-derived polymer, is widely used in food packaging, dye removal, coatings, and solid-supported catalysis. Heterogeneous catalysts play a critical role in environmental remediation. In this context, the demand for green and cost-effective catalysts has rapidly increased. In this study, cellulose was extracted from rice straw, and a highly active solid-supported catalytic model was developed. First, cellulose was conjugated with poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (PEVA), and then Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) were inserted into the cellulose–PEVA composite. The process involved the reduction of AgNPs in the presence of sodium borohydride. The fabricated hybrid catalyst was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, and powder X-ray diffraction. Thereafter, the obtained hybrid was used as a catalyst for the Willgerodt–Kindler reaction of aromatic aldehydes, amines, and S₈ to synthesize thioamides with excellent yields. The developed catalytic system exhibited high stability and recyclability. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the hybrid catalyst were evaluated using tensile strength and impact tests. RGB analysis of digital images was also performed to investigate the primary components of the catalyst.

The AgNPs@cellulose–PEVA hybrid catalyst presented excellent catalytic efficacy for the Willgerodt–Kindler reaction, facilitating the selective formation of C Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> S bonds.

Supramolecular catalysis: the role of H-bonding interactions in substrate orientation and activation

Hydrogen bonding plays significant roles in various biological processes during substrate orientation and binding and therefore assists in assorted organic transformations. However, replicating the intricate selection of hydrogen bonds, as observed in nature, in synthetic complexes has met with only limited success. Despite this fact, recent times have seen the emergence of several notable examples where hydrogen bonds have been introduced in synthetic complexes. A few such examples have also illustrated the substantial role played by the hydrogen bonds in influencing and often controlling the catalytic outcome. This perspective presents selected examples illustrating the significance of hydrogen bonds offered by the coordination and the organometallic complexes that aid in providing the desired orientation to a substrate adjacent to a catalytic metal center and remarkably assisting in the catalysis.

Layer or Tube? Uncovering Key Factors Determining the Rolling-up of Layered Coordination Polymers

Nanotubular materials have garnered considerable attention since the discovery of carbon nanotubes. Although the layer-to-tube rolling up mechanism has been well recognized in explaining the formation of many inorganic nanotubes, it has not been generally applied to coordination polymers (CPs). To uncover the key factors that determine the rolling-up of layered CPs, we have chosen the Co/R-, S-Xpemp [Xpemp = (4-X-1-phenylethylamino)methylphosphonic acid, X = H, F, Cl, Br] systems and study how the weak interactions influence the formation of layered or tubular structures. Four pairs of homochiral isostructural compounds R-, S-Co(Xpemp)(H₂O)₂ [X = H (1H), F (2F), Cl (3Cl), Br (4Br)] were obtained with tubular structures. The inclusion of 3,3'-azobipyridine (ABP) guest molecules led to compounds R-, S-[Co(Xpemp)(H₂O)₂]₄·ABP·H₂O with layered structures when X was Cl (5Cl) and Br (6Br), but tubular compounds 1H and 2F when X was H and F. Layered structures were also obtained for racemic compounds meso-Co(Xpemp)(H₂O)₂ [X = F (7F), Cl (8Cl), Br (9Br)] using racemic XpempH₂ as the reaction precursor, but not when X = H. A detailed study on R-6Br revealed that layer-to-tube transformation occurred upon removal of ABP under hydrothermal conditions, forming R-4Br with a tubular structure. Similar layer-to-tube conversion did not occur in organic solvents. The results demonstrate that weak interlayer interactions are a prerequisite but not sufficient for the rolling-up of the layers. In the present cases, water also provides a driving force in the layer-to-tube transformation. The experimental results were rationalized by theoretical calculations.