A novel metal-organic framework (MOF) [Cu 3 L(2,6-NDC) 2 ]Á0.5DMF (MOF-Cu-1) was synthesized by solvothermal reaction of copper nitrate trihydrate with 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (2,6-H 2 NDC) and amino tridentate N-donor containing ligand of N 1 -(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzyl)-N 1 -(2-aminoethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (L). MOF-Cu-1 is a three-dimensional (3D) framework with one-dimensional (1D) channels. Because of the high stability of the framework and the existence of amino functional groups, MOF-Cu-1 presents excellent heterogeneous catalytic activity for ring-opening reaction of epoxides by amines and reusability for four cycles with negligible loss of efficiency.
K E Y W O R D Samino tridentate N-donor ligand, epoxides, heterogeneous catalyst, metal-organic framework, ring-opening reaction
| INTRODUCTIONEpoxides are common organic molecules with wide range of synthetic applications as intermediates in pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. [1] The classical ring opening approach of epoxides involves heating of epoxides with large excess of amines at elevated temperature and works less well with poor nucleophilic amines, indicating that it is necessary to develop efficient catalysts for the ring opening reaction of epoxides. [2] Some homogeneous catalysts, including metal salts and acid, have already been applied. [3][4][5] However, with the rise of environmental awareness, heterogeneous catalysis has attracted extensive attention owing to the effective