Two-dimensional copper-based metal-organic framework as a robust heterogeneous catalyst for the N-arylation of imidazole with arylboronic acids

N-arylation of imidazole was accomplished with a two-dimensional (2D) [Cu(ima)(2)](n) metal-organic framework in methanol at room temperature. A variety of N-arylimidazoles were isolated in good yields after a short reaction time. Moreover, the robust MOF may be readily recovered after the reaction and reused for many cycles without loss of catalytic activity. (C) 2012 Elsevier BM. All rights reserved.