Three Component Controls in Pillared Metal-Organic Frameworks for Catalytic Carbon Dioxide Fixation

Three components of pillared metal-organic frameworks (MOFs, three components = metal ion, carboxylic acid ligand, and N-chelating ligand) were controlled for CO2 cycloaddition catalysts to synthesize organic cyclic carbonates. Among the divalent metals, Zn2+ showed the best catalytic activity, and in DABCO (1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane)-based MOFs, hydroxy-functionalized DMOF-OH was the most efficient MOF for CO2 cycloaddition. For the BPY (4,4’-bipyridyl)-type MOFs, all five prepared BMOFs (BPY MOFs) showed similar and good conversions for CO2 cycloaddition. Finally, this pillared MOF could be recycled up to three times without activity and crystallinity loss.