Synthetic Approaches to Metallo-Supramolecular CoII Polygons and Potential Use for H2O Oxidation.

Metal-directed self-assembly has been applied to prepare supramolecular coordination polygons which adopt tetrahedral (1) or trigonal disklike topologies (2). In the solid state, 2 assembles into a stable halide-metal-organic material (Hal-MOM-2), which catalyzes H2O oxidation under photo- and electrocatalytic conditions, operating with a maximum TON = 78 and TOF = 1.26 s-1. DFT calculations attribute the activity to a CoIII-oxyl species. This study provides the first account of how CoII imine based supramolecules can be employed as H2O oxidation catalysts.

Simple and efficient synthesis of cyclic carbonates using quaternized glycine as a green catalyst.

Microwave-assisted quaternization of glycine (GLY) resulted in the synthesis of an efficient catalyst, quaternized glycine (QGLY), for the solventless synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO2 under mild reaction conditions. Density functional theory was used to simulate the synergistic influence of the COOH group and the halide ion of QGLY in enhancing the catalytic activity.

Hybrid inorganic-organic framework as efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of allyl glycidyl carbonate from CO2 and allyl glycidyl ether.

A mixed-linker nanoporous coordination polymer Zn2(HIP)2(bipy)(H2O)2 x H2O (ZnHipBipy) constructed from polyfunctional linker 5-hydroxy isophthalic acid (HIP) and exo-bidentate ligand 4,4'-bipyridyl (bipy) was employed as heterogeneous catalyst for allyl glycidyl carbonate (AGC) synthesis from CO2 and allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) under solventless conditions. Besides being the organic linker, 5-hydroxy isophthalic acid enriches the functionality of the material through accessible hydroxyl group capable of contributing extensive hydrogen bonding interactions. The cycloaddition of CO2 and epoxide was catalyzed through a synergistic pathway offered by inherent hydroxyl group together with the catalytically active metal centre. Method of synthesis and texture of the catalyst were key factors in determining the conversion and selectivity. The effects of reaction parameters like catalyst amount, temperature, CO2 pressure and reaction time on the yield of AGC were also studied.

Assembly, disassembly and reassembly: a "top-down" synthetic strategy towards hybrid, mixed-metal {Mo10Co6} POM clusters.

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are commonly prepared using a "bottom-up" synthetic procedure. The alternative "top-down" approach of disassembling a pre-formed POM unit to generate new synthetic intermediates is promising, but relatively comparatively underused. In this paper, a rationale for the top-down method is provided, demonstrating that this approach can generate compounds that are fundamentally inaccessible from simple bottom-up assembly. We demonstrate this principle through the synthesis of a series of 10, new, mixed-metal, hybrid compounds with the general formula [TBA]2[MoVI10CoII6O30(RpPO3)6(RcCOO)2(L)x(H2O)6] (TBA = tetrabutylammonium, Rp = phosphonate moiety, Rc = carboxylate moiety, L = pyridyl ligand, and x = 2-4), including a one-dimensional polyoxometalate-based coordination polymer. We propose that these structures are generated from {MoxO3x-1} fragments that cannot be accessed from bottom-up assembly alone. The POM clusters are stabilised by three distinct classes of organic ligand - organophosphonate, carboxylate and pyridyl ligands - which can each be substituted independantly, thus providing a controlled route to ligand functionalisation.

Rapid, Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Cubic, Three-Dimensional, Highly Porous MOF-205 for Room Temperature CO2 Fixation via Cyclic Carbonate Synthesis.

A dual-porous, three-dimensional, metal-organic framework [Zn4O(2,6-NDC)(BTB)4/3] (MOF-205, BET = 4200 m2/g) has been synthesized using microwave power as an alternative energy source for the first time, and its catalytic activity has been exploited for CO2-epoxide coupling reactions to produce five-membered cyclic carbonates under solvent-free conditions. Microwave synthesis was performed at different time intervals to reveal the formation of the crystals. Significant conversion of various epoxides was obtained at room temperature, with excellent selectivity toward the desired five-membered cyclic carbonates. The importance of the dual porosity and the synergistic effect of quaternary ammonium salts on efficiently catalyzed CO2 conversion were investigated using various experimental and physicochemical characterization techniques, and the results were compared with those of the solvothermally synthesized MOF-205 sample. On the basis of literature and experimental inferences, a rationalized mechanism mediated by the zinc center of MOF-205 for the CO2-epoxide cycloaddition reaction has been proposed.

A sustainable protocol for the facile synthesis of zinc-glutamate MOF: an efficient catalyst for room temperature CO2 fixation reactions under wet conditions.

A water stable zinc-MOF (ZnGlu) catalyst was facilely prepared from the proteinogenic amino acid, l-glutamic acid at room temperature in aqueous medium. CO2 fixations were promoted by the ZnGlu catalyst's inherently coordinated water and externally added water in yielding cyclic carbonate and cyclic urethane at room temperature. This eliminates the need for catalyst activation, making ZnGlu a ready-to-use catalyst. The enhanced CO2 cycloaddition with added water hints at the application of ZnGlu in wet flue gas conversions. This is the first reported attempt for the use of an MOF in the cycloaddition of aziridine and CO2.

Exploring the Catalytic Potential of ZIF-90: Solventless and Co-Catalyst-Free Synthesis of Propylene Carbonate from Propylene Oxide and CO2.

Reported is the application of ZIF-90, which is a highly porous zeolitic imidazolate framework, as a novel catalyst for the cycloaddition of propylene oxide (PO) with CO2 in the absence of co-catalysts and solvents under moderate reaction conditions. The effects of various reaction parameters were investigated. The activity of ZIF-90 was compared with that of various metal-organic-framework (MOF)-based catalysts for the cycloaddition of PO with CO2 . Density functional theory calculations elucidated the role of ZIF-90 in creating a favorable environment for the PO-CO2 cycloaddition reaction. A reaction mechanism for the ZIF-90-catalyzed PO-CO2 cycloaddition on the basis of DFT calculations is proposed and the regeneration of ZIF-90 is discussed.

Amino acid/KI as multi-functional synergistic catalysts for cyclic carbonate synthesis from CO2 under mild reaction conditions: a DFT corroborated study.

Naturally occurring amino acids were identified as efficient co-catalysts for the alkali metal halide-mediated synthesis of cyclic carbonates from carbon dioxide and epoxides under mild, solvent free reaction conditions. The binary system of histidine/potassium iodide gave an appreciable turnover number of 535 for propylene oxide in 3 h. Detailed studies evaluating a variety of amino acids revealed that the basic amino acids afforded better conversion rates. The formation of a seven membered ring involving the zwitterionic ends of the amino acid, the metal halide, and the epoxide was considered to accelerate the catalysis rate. Density functional theory calculations were performed for the first time on amino acid co-catalyzed cycloaddition to provide further evidence for this hypothesis. The iodide ions of the alkali metal halide displayed excellent synergism with the hydrogen bonding groups of the amino acids in the production of cyclic carbonates, whereas bromide and chloride anions functioned less efficiently. The utilization of amino acids to enhance the catalytic activity of the cheap and eco-friendly alkali metal halides for cyclic carbonate synthesis represents a cost-effective, greener route towards the chemical fixation of carbon dioxide.

The unprecedented catalytic activity of alkanolamine CO2 scrubbers in the cycloaddition of CO2 and oxiranes: a DFT endorsed study.

A novel application of alkanolamines, widely employed as CO2 scrubbers in catalyzing the insertion of CO2 into epoxides generating cyclic carbonates in excellent yield and selectivity via the synergistic activity of hydroxyl and amine groups, is unravelled along with computational studies.