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Updated: May 22, 2026

Development of Heterogeneous Enantioselective Catalysts using Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
Published on: January 17, 2020
Chiral nanoporous metal-metallosalen frameworks for hydrolytic kinetic resolution of epoxides
Chengfeng Zhu1, Guozan Yuan, Xu Chen
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Technology and State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
Abstract:
Chiral nanoporous metal-organic frameworks are constructed by using dicarboxyl-functionalized chiral Ni(salen) and Co(salen) ligands. The Co(salen)-based framework is shown to be an efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) of racemic epoxides with up to 99.5% ee. The MOF structure brings Co(salen) units into a highly dense arrangement and close proximity that enhances bimetallic cooperative interactions, leading to improved catalytic activity and enantioselectivity in HKR compared with its homogeneous analogues, especially at low catalyst/substrate ratios.
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