Synthesis and catalytic applications of metal-organic frameworks: a review on recent literature

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are an emerging class of porous materials created by the assembly of inorganic connectors and organic linkers. They have potential applications in fields such as gas storage as well as separation, sensing, catalysis, and drug delivery due to its properties such as flexibility, porosity, high surface area and functionality. Among the various synthetic approaches for the preparation of MOFs, solvothermal and microwave-assisted methods are of particular importance, and hence have been used frequently. They have been recently used as heterogeneous catalysts in Friedel-Crafts reactions, condensations reactions, oxidations, coupling reactions, etc. However, owing to the low thermal stability and moisture sensitivity, their catalytic applications are limited. This short review covers recent developments in the synthetic methods employed for the preparation of MOFs as well as their catalytic applications.