Exploring Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reactions using metal organic framework catalysts.

Abstract

The Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV) reaction is a reaction that is used to reduce aldehydes and ketones to the corresponding alcohols with the added use of catalysts. The common metal triflate catalysts used in MPV reduction incur tremendous environmental hazards and high operational costs. The use of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) as catalysts can be an alternative due to MOFs’ extraordinarily high surface areas, ultrahigh porosities, tunable pore sizes, modifiable internal surfaces, and numerous framework structures. Moreover, using MOFs as catalysts for MPV hydrogenation is economically viable due to low operational and material costs. This study involves using MOF-808 (Hf) in the MPV reductions of various aldehyde and ketone compounds, specifically discussing its synthesis techniques. It determines the catalytic activity of MOF-808 in MPV reaction by the calculated conversions, product yields, and product selectivity values of each aldehyde and ketone compound. Its results indicate that MOF-808 (Hf) can reduce various aldehyde and ketone compounds, including cyclohexanone and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), to their corresponding alcohol products with high conversions, product yields, and product selectivity values.