Bioinspired Framework Catalysts: From Enzyme Immobilization to Biomimetic Catalysis

Enzymatic catalysis has fueled considerable interest from chemists due to its high efficiency and selectivity. However, the structural complexity and vulnerability hamper the application potentials of enzymes. Driven by the practical demand for chemical conversion, there is a long-sought quest for bioinspired catalysts reproducing and even surpassing the functions of natural enzymes. As nanoporous materials with high surface areas and crystallinity, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) represent an exquisite case of how natural enzymes and their active sites are integrated into porous solids, affording bioinspired heterogeneous catalysts with superior stability and customizable structures. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the advances of bioinspired MOFs for catalysis, discuss the design principle of various MOF-based catalysts, such as MOF-enzyme composites and MOFs embedded with active sites, and explore the utility of these catalysts in different reactions. The advantages of MOFs as enzyme mimetics are also highlighted, including confinement, templating effects, and functionality, in comparison with homogeneous supramolecular catalysts. A perspective is provided to discuss potential solutions addressing current challenges in MOF catalysis.

Automated summary

Enzymatic catalysis has attracted interest from chemists due to its efficiency and selectivity, but the complexity and vulnerability of enzymes limit their application potential. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) integrate the structure and active sites of natural enzymes into porous solids, providing bioinspired heterogeneous catalysts with superior stability and customizable structures. This review comprehensively summarizes the advances of bioinspired MOFs for catalysis, discusses the design principles of various MOF-based catalysts, and explores their utility in different reactions. The advantages of MOFs as enzyme mimetics are highlighted, and potential solutions to current challenges in MOF catalysis are discussed.