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Chiral Phosphoric Acid-Functionalized Three-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks with Exceptional Chemical
Mengsi Li1, Peiyi Duan1, Lin Li1,2
1College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|January 16, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed stable, crystalline chiral phosphoric acid-functionalized three-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (3D COFs). These robust materials demonstrate excellent performance in asymmetric catalysis, offering a reusable alternative to homogeneous catalysts.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Organic Chemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Designing stable three-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (3D COFs) with chiral phosphoric acids is crucial for enhancing enantioselectivity in asymmetric catalysis.
- Developing robust and reusable heterogeneous chiral organocatalysts remains a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct highly crystalline chiral phosphoric acid-functionalized 3D COFs using a multivariate approach.
- To evaluate the stability and catalytic performance of these novel 3D COFs in asymmetric N, N-acetalization reactions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a multivariate approach for synthesizing two novel 3D COFs.
- Characterized the frameworks for crystallinity and topological structure (4-fold interpenetrated qtz topology).
- Assessed chemical stability under harsh conditions (12 M HCl, saturated NaOH, boiling water).
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized two highly crystalline chiral phosphoric acid-functionalized 3D COFs.
- Demonstrated exceptional chemical stability, maintaining crystallinity in extreme conditions.
- Achieved good activity, enantioselectivity, and recyclability in asymmetric N, N-acetalization reactions, outperforming homogeneous catalysts.
Conclusions:
- Developed highly stable, chiral phosphoric acid-functionalized 3D COFs with potential for asymmetric catalysis.
- Established a foundation for creating robust, reusable heterogeneous chiral organocatalysts.
- Highlighted the benefits of confined chiral porous architectures in organocatalysis.
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