Postsynthetic Metal Exchange in a Metal-Organic Framework Assembled from Co(III) Diphosphine Pincer Complexes.

A Zr metal-organic framework (MOF) 1-CoCl3 has been synthesized by solvothermal reaction of ZrCl4 with a carboxylic acid-functionalized CoIII-PNNNP pincer complex H4(L-CoCl3) ([L-CoCl3]4- = [(2,6-(NHPAr2)2C6H3)CoCl3]4-, Ar = p-C6H4CO2-). The structure of 1-CoCl3 has been determined by X-ray powder diffraction and exhibits a csq topology that differs from previously reported ftw-net Zr MOFs assembled from related PdII- and PtII-PNNNP pincer complexes. The Co-PNNNP pincer species readily demetallate upon reduction of CoIII to CoII, allowing for transmetalation with late second and third row transition metals in both the homogeneous complex and 1-CoCl3. Reaction of 1-CoCl3 with [Rh(nbd)Cl]2 (nbd = 2,5-nobornadiene) results in complete Rh/Co metal exchange at the supported diphosphine pincer complexes to generate 1-RhCl, which has been inaccessible by direct solvothermal synthesis. Treating 1-CoCl3 with PtCl2(SMe2)2 in the presence of the mild reductant NEt3 resulted in nearly complete Co substitution by Pt. In addition, a mixed metal pincer MOF, 1-PtRh, was generated by sequential substitution of Co with Pt followed by Rh.

Unveiling reactive metal sites in a Pd pincer MOF: insights into Lewis acid and pore selective catalysis.

A porous Zr metal-organic framework, 1-PdBF4 [Zr6O4(OH)4(OAc)2.4{(PNNNP)Pd(MeCN)}2.4(BF4)2.4; PNNNP = 2,6-(HNPAr2)2C5H3N; Ar = p-C6H4CO2-], has been synthesized via postsynthetic oxidative I-/BF4- ligand exchange using NOBF4. 1-PdBF4 enjoys markedly superior catalytic activity and recyclability to its trifluoracetate-exchanged analogue, 1-PdTFA, for the intramolecular cyclization of o-alkynyl anilines and the carbonyl-ene cyclization of citronellal. Moreover, 1-PdBF4 demonstrates a rare example of pore selective catalysis for the cyclization of 2-ethynyl aniline.

Improved Catalytic Activity and Stability of a Palladium Pincer Complex by Incorporation into a Metal-Organic Framework.

A porous metal-organic framework Zr6O4(OH)4(L-PdX)3 (1-X) has been constructed from Pd diphosphinite pincer complexes ([L-PdX](4-) = [(2,6-(OPAr2)2C6H3)PdX](4-), Ar = p-C6H4CO2(-), X = Cl, I). Reaction of 1-X with PhI(O2CCF3)2 facilitates I(-)/CF3CO2(-) ligand exchange to generate 1-TFA and I2 as a soluble byproduct. 1-TFA is an active and recyclable catalyst for transfer hydrogenation of benzaldehydes using formic acid as a hydrogen source. In contrast, the homogeneous analogue (t)Bu(L-PdTFA) is an ineffective catalyst owing to decomposition under the catalytic conditions, highlighting the beneficial effects of immobilization.