Metal-organic framework-based nanostructured catalysts: Applications in efficient organic transformations

Abstract

In the heterogeneous catalyst domain, there has been an incessant demand in recent decades with a focus on introducing environmentally friendly and sustainable materials. Because of their distinct structural properties, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are emerging as a new class of active materials for organic reactions; sophisticated hybrid catalytic materials can now be fabricated with improved recyclability, separability, and activity for specific organic processes by integrating MOFs with metallic nanoparticles. Herein, we deliberate on several MOF-based nanostructured catalysts that facilitate selected organic transformations. Examples comprise, among others, the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation, cyanation of aldehydes, cycloalkane oxidation, epoxidation of cyclohexenes, esterification, Heck reaction, tandem reactions, Sonogashira and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions, which exploit the catalysts' reactivity, reusability, and interactions with the inherent properties of the deployed MOF-based nanostructured catalysts. The benefits, shortcomings, reusability, and efficiency aspects of the introduced catalysts are reviewed. A succinct conclusion is offered, along with a commentary on the major hurdles encountered today and prospective future research needs related to the MOF-based catalysts.