A new iron-based metal–organic framework with enhancing catalysis activity for benzene hydroxylation

Abstract

A new Fe-based metal–organic framework (MOF), termed Fe-TBAPy Fe₂(OH)₂(TBAPy)·4.4H₂O, was solvothermally synthesized. Structural analysis revealed that Fe-TBAPy is built from [Fe(OH)(CO₂)₂]_∞ rod-shaped SBUs (SBUs = secondary building units) and 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(p-benzoate)pyrene (TBAPy⁴⁻) linker to form the frz topological structure highlighted by 7 Å channels and 3.4 Å narrow pores sandwiching between the pyrene cores of TBAPy⁴⁻. Consequently, Fe-TBAPy was used as a recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for benzene hydroxylation. Remarkably, the catalysis reaction resulted in high phenol yield and selectivity of 64.5% and 92.9%, respectively, which are higher than that of the other Fe-based MOFs and comparable with those of the best-performing heterogeneous catalysts for benzene hydroxylation. This finding demonstrated the potential for the design of MOFs with enhancing catalysis activity for benzene hydroxylation.