Modulating the basicity of Zn-MOF-74 via cation exchange with calcium ions

The fine-tuning of metal-based molecular building blocks in Zn-MOF-74 through post-synthetic cation exchange with Ca2+ significantly enhances its basicity and corresponding catalytic performance. The resulting material, exemplified by Ca/Zn-MOF-74, is shown through Knoevenagel condensation to give an improved product yield over the parent Zn-MOF-74 and Ni/Zn-MOF-74.