Scalable iron-squarate MOF catalyst for efficient CO2 cycloaddition under mild conditions

Abstract

We report a new porous iron squarate MOF (IEF-40), isostructural to its Co-analogue FJUT-3(Co), with open Fe(III) sites and microwave-induced defects and mesoporosity, achieving the highest conversion reported to date for Fe-MOFs with an excellent stability and recyclability, providing an earth-abundant, low-cost alternative to the isostructural Co(II) counterpart and to other uneconomical, and sometimes even toxic catalysts.