Modification of Cu2+into Zr-based metal-organic framework (MOF) with carboxylic units as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for aerobic epoxidation of olefins

A series of metal-organic framework (MOF) based catalysts for aerobic epoxidation were reported. A post-synthetic modification strategy using a solvothermal method enabled the incorporation of three different copper salts on a Zr-based MOF material UiO-66-(COOH)(2); catalysts Cu@UiO-1, Cu@UiO-2 and Cu@UiO-3 were obtained. When analyzed by SEM and EDX, no impact of the post-synthetic modification on the core structure of the UiO-66-(COOH)(2) framework was noticed. Studies showed Cu@UiO-1 to be the optimal catalyst for aerobic epoxidation thanks to its broad substrate scope, thermal stability, excellent recyclability. Observed catalytic properties are also better than those of previously reported copper catalysts.