A Bipyridine-Based MOF-Supported Single-Site Palladium Catalyst for Efficient and Recyclable Carbonylation of Aryl Iodides to Esters

Abstract

The development of efficient and recyclable catalysts for the carbonylation of aryl halides remains a significant challenge in industry production. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of m-bpy-MOF-PdCl₂, a heterogeneous single-site palladium catalyst constructed via a mixed-linker metal-organic framework (MOF) strategy. The framework incorporates chelating bipyridine sites that enable atomic-level dispersion of Pd(II) species and modulate their electronic properties. In the carbonylation of iodobenzene, the catalyst exhibits exceptional activity under mild conditions without the need for a base. It also exhibits broad functional group tolerance, straightforward separation, and excellent recyclability over multiple cycles, with minimal loss of performance.