Designing covalent organic frameworks for organic catalysis: bridging reticular and molecular chemistry

Abstract

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have gained significant attention over the past decade as heterogeneous catalysts for a wide range of applications. Among the most prominent is organic synthesis, a key area in disciplines such as medicinal chemistry, materials science, and designing molecules with optoelectronic properties. In this review, we provide an overview of the fundamental advances in the synthetic design of COFs, specifically focusing on strategies to enhance their catalytic activity for organic transformations. The discussion is organized around four key areas: catalysis driven by the material's backbone, ligand design for organocatalysis, support for metals, and the hosting of nanostructures such as nanoparticles or enzymes.