Ligand free copper-catalyzed heterogeneous O-arylation reaction under green condition

A highly porous Zn-based iso-reticular metal-organic framework (IRMOF-3) has been selected for covalent modification. Pyridine-2-aldehyde has been used to decorate the free amine group of IRMOF-3 in the porous matrix. Schiff base moiety thus generated has been availed to anchor copper(II) ions to prepare the desired catalyst that catalyzes O-arylation reactions heterogeneously under mild reaction conditions. Porous catalyst demonstrates size selectivity in products when various substrates undergo O-arylation with alpha and beta-naphthol. (C) 2014 Elsevier BM. All rights reserved.