Efficient Conversion of CO2 via Grafting Urea Group into a [Cu2(COO)4]-Based Metal–Organic Framework with Hierarchical Porosity

The assembly of mixed [1,1';3',1'']terphenyl-4,5',4''-tricarboxylic acid (H3TPTC) and [1,1'-biphenyl]-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid (H2BPDC), 2,2'-diamino-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid (H2BPDC-NH2), or 6-oxo-6,7-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[ d, f][1,3]diazepine-3,9-dicarboxylic acid (H2BPDC-Urea) with Cu2+ ion generated the corresponding copper-paddlewheel-based metal-organic framework (MOF) [Cu5(TPTC)3(BPDC)0.5(H2O)5] (1), [Cu5(TPTC)3(BPDC-NH2)0.5(H2O)5] (1-NH2), or [Cu5(TPTC)3(BPDC-Urea)0.5(H2O)5] (1-Urea). They are isostructural with hierarchical porosity, consisting of zero-dimensional cage (19.2 Å × 18.9 Å) and one-dimensional pillar channel (29.7 Å × 15.1 Å) in a manner of face sharing. Platon analyses revealed the porous volume ratios are 80.2%, 80.0%, and 77.8% for 1, 1-NH2, and for 1-Urea, respectively. Thermogravimetric measurements suggested 53, 51, and 48 wt % guest molecules in 1, 1-NH2, and 1-Urea, respectively. 1-NH2 and 1-Urea were precisely functionalized via the introduction of amino and urea functional groups into the pillar channels. The constructed MOF 1-Urea, incorporating both exposed copper active sites and accessible urea functional groups to substrates, presents high efficiency on catalytic CO2 cycloaddition with propene oxide to produce cyclic carbonate in the yield of 98% with a TOF value of 136 h-1 at 1 atm and room temperature. This synergic effect provides a new strategy for designing high-efficient catalysts for CO2 chemical conversion under ambient conditions.