Synthesis of bimetallic Zr(Ti)-naphthalendicarboxylate MOFs and their properties as Lewis acid catalysis

Abstract

Bimetallic Zr(Ti)-NDC based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been prepared by incorporation of titanium(IV) into zirconium(IV)-NDC-MOFs (UiO family). The resulting materials maintain thermal (up to 500 °C), chemical and structural stability with respect to parent Zr-MOFs as can be deduced from XRD, N₂ adsorption, FTIR and thermal analysis. The materials have been studied in Lewis acid catalyzed reactions, such as, domino Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV) reduction–etherification of p-methoxybenzaldehyde with butanol, isomerization of α-pinene oxide and cyclization of citronellal.