The Journey from Porous Materials to Metal-organic Frameworks and their Catalytic Applications: A Review

Abstract

Abstract: Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), an inorganic-organic hybrid material, have been at the centre stage of material science for three decades. MOFs are synthesized by metal ions and organic linker precursors and have become very potential materials for different applications ranging from sensing, separation, catalytic behaviour to biomedical applications and drug delivery. owing to its structural flexibility, porosity and functionality. It is also very promising in heterogeneous catalysis for various industrial applications. These catalysts can be easily synthesized with extremely high surface areas, tunable pore sizes, and incorporation of catalytic centres via post synthetic modification (PSM) or exchange of their components as compared to traditional heterogeneous catalysts which is the preliminary requirement of a better catalyst. Here, in this review, we have sketched the history of MOFs, different synthesis procedures, and MOF- catalysed reactions, for instance, coupling reactions, condensation reactions, Friedel-Crafts reactions, oxidation, etc. Special attention is given to MOFs containing different catalytic centres including open metal sites, incorporation of catalytic centres through PSM, and bifunctional acid-base sites. Discussion on the important role of catalytic centres present in MOFs and reaction mechanisms has been outlined with examples.