Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) M 2 (BDC) 2 (DABCO), (M=Co, Ni, Cu and Zn, BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, and DABCO = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) have been prepared via a simple and effective strategy by the ball-milling method, with no use of a solvent at room temperature. This method provides a facile, green, solvent-free and low-cost strategy for the preparation of Co, Ni, Cu and Zn based M 2 (BDC) 2 (DABCO) nanoporous particles (NPs) with square lattice structures. The structure and morphology of the MOFs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The catalytic activity of the prepared MOFs was investigated in the acylation reaction of alcohols, amines and aldehydes with acetic anhydride in solvent-free method. The Lewis acid activity of the as-synthesized MOFs was drastically enhanced by microwave irradiation.