A MoVI grafted Metal Organic Framework: Synthesis, characterization and catalytic investigations

We present the post-modification of a gallium based Metal Organic Framework, COMOC-4, with a Mocomplex. The resulting Mo@COMOC-4 was characterized by means of N-2 sorption, XRPD, DRIFT, TGA, XRF, XPS and TEM analysis. The results demonstrate that even at high Mo-complex loadings on the framework, no aggregation or any Mo or Mo oxide species are formed. Moreover, the Mo@COMOC-4 was evaluated as a catalyst in the epoxidation of cyclohexene, cyclooctene and cyclododecene employing TBHP in decane as oxidant. The post-modified COMOC-4 exhibits a very high selectivity toward the epoxide (up to 100%). Regenerability and stability tests have been carried out demonstrating that the catalyst can be recycled without leaching of Mo or loss of crystallinity. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.