Selective catalytic behavior of a phosphine-tagged metal-organic framework organocatalyst

Steric hindrance by a metal-organic framework (MOF) is shown to influence the outcome of a catalytic reaction by controlling the orientation of its intermediates. This is demonstrated using an organocatalyst, phosphine MOF LSK-3, which is evaluated with the aid of molecular modeling and NMR spectroscopy techniques. This report is the first application of phosphine MOFs in organocatalysis and explores the potential of a framework steric hindrance to impose selectivity on a catalytic reaction. These findings expand the opportunities for control and design of the active site in the pocket of heterogeneous catalysts.