Metal-organic frameworks containing nitrogen-donor ligands for efficient catalytic organic transformations

Metal-organic framework (MOFs) compositions based on nitrogen donor-based organic bridging ligands, including ligands based on 1,3-diketimine (NacNac), bipyridines and salicylaldimine, were synthesized and then post-synthetically metalated with metal precursors, such as complexes of first row transition metals. Metal complexes of the organic bridging ligands could also be directly incorporated into the MOFs. The MOFs provide a versatile family of recyclable and reusable single-site solid catalysts for catalyzing a variety of asymmetric organic transformations. The solid catalysts can also be integrated into a flow reactor or a supercritical fluid reactor.