Heterometallic Metal–Organic Frameworks That Catalyze Two Different Reactions Sequentially

A series of copper- and alkaline-earth-metal-based multidimensional metal-organic frameworks, {[CuMg(pdc)2(H2O)4]·2H2O}n (1), [CuCa(pdc)2]n (2), [CuSr(pdc)2(H2O)3]n (3), and {[CuBa(pdc)2(H2O)5]·H2O}n (4), where H2Pdc = pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid, were hydrothermally synthesized and characterized. Two different metals act as the active center to catalyze two kinds of reactions, viz., olefin to its epoxide followed by epoxide ring opening to afford the corresponding vicinal diol in a sequential manner.