Azo-Functionalized Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Polyhedron as an Efficient Catalyst for CO₂ Fixation with Epoxides

Chemical fixation of CO₂ as C1 source at ambient temperature and low pressure is an energy-saving way to make use of the green-house gas, but it still remains a challenge since efficient catalyst with high catalytic active sites is required. Here, a novel monoclinic azo-functionalized Zr-based metal-organic polyhedron (Zr-AZDA) has been prepared and applied in CO₂ fixation with epoxides. The inherent azo groups not only endow Zr-AZDA with good solubilization, but also act as basic sites to enrich CO₂ showing efficient synergistic catalysis as confirmed by TPD-CO₂ analysis. XPS results demonstrate that the Zr active sites in Zr-AZDA possess suitable Lewis acidity, which satisfies both substrates activation and products desorption. DFT calculation indicates the energy barrier of the rate-determining step in CO₂ cycloaddition could be reduced remarkably (by ca. 60.9 %) in the presence of Zr-AZDA, which may rationalize the mild and efficient reaction condition employed (80 °C and 1 atm of CO₂ ). The work provides an effective multi-functional cooperative method for improvement of CO₂ cycloaddition.