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Updated: Nov 5, 2025

Development of Heterogeneous Enantioselective Catalysts using Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks MOFs
Published on: January 17, 2020
Immobilization of Rh(I) precursor in a porphyrin metal-organic framework - turning on the catalytic activity
Anna M Szczepkowska1, Mateusz Janeta1, Miłosz Siczek1
1Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland. wojciech.bury@chem.uni.wroc.pl.
Abstract:
Two model porphyrin metal-organic frameworks were used for the incorporation of Rh(i) species by a post-synthetic metallation under mild conditions. As a result, new rhodium MOFs (Rh/MOFs), Rh/PCN-222 and Rh/NU-1102, were synthesized and structurally characterized. To illustrate the potential of this catalytic platform, we use Rh/MOFs as phosphine-free heterogeneous catalysts in the hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons under mild reaction conditions (30 °C and 1 atm H2). We found that for our Rh/MOFs an activation step is required during the first run of the catalytic process. The presence of Rh-CO moieties allowed us to monitor the activation pathway of the catalyst under a H2 atmosphere, by in situ Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS). After activation, the catalyst remains highly active during the subsequent catalytic cycles. This simple post-synthetic modification approach presents new possibilities for the utilization of Rh-based catalytic systems with robust porphyrin-based MOFs as supports.
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