Hydroquinone-treated Cu3(BTC)2: a mixed-valence Cu(i/ii) MOF catalyst for efficient cycloadditions

Abstract

We present mixed-valence Cu(I)1Cu(II)2(BTC)2 [henceforth Cu(I/II)-HKUST-1], post-synthetically prepared via the hydroquinone (H2Q) treatment of Cu(II)3(BTC)2 (also referred to as HKUST-1) and its subsequent catalytic activity.This Cu(I/II)-HKUST-1 exhibits exceptional structural integrity and superior catalytic performance in the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction between phenylacetylene and benzyl azide.These findings highlight the potential of mixed-valence Cu-based MOFs as effective and sustainable heterogeneous catalysts for organic transformations, paving the way for future advancements in MOF-based catalysis. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2024.