Metal-organic frameworks as heterogeneous catalysts for electrocatalytic oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate

The development of heterogeneous catalysts, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), may overcome most of the problems associated with homogeneous catalysts. A Cu-based MOF with mixed ligands was synthesized, and its electrocatalytic activity for the oxidative carbonylation of methanol was studied. This study demonstrates for the first time that a Cu-based MOF can actively electrocatalyze methanol into dimethyl carbonate (DMC). A self-designed electrolytic cell was constructed for electrocatalysis experiments. The as-synthesized Cu-based MOF showed a pair of redox peaks at ca. + 0.3 V. This paper utilizes a new approach for synthesizing DMC in a heterogeneous catalytic system. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.