Immobilization of Copper‐Azophenol on UiO‐66‐NH2 MOF and Its Application as a New Nanocatalyst for the Synthesis of Pyrrole‐2‐ones

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn this work, a new metal–organic framework (Cu(II)@UiO‐66‐AzPh) was prepared by functionalizing UiO‐66‐NH2 with 2,4‐dihydroxy‐5‐para‐tolyl‐azo benzaldehyde (AzPh) and then fixing the copper cation on its surface. The formation of this nanocatalyst has been confirmed by SEM, IR, mapping, EDX, BET, CHN, TEM, and TGA analyses. Then, the catalytic activity of Cu(II)@UiO‐66‐AzPh was evaluated in the three‐component reactions of benzaldehydes, aniline derivatives, and ethyl pyruvate, which led to 1,5‐dihydro‐2H‐pyrrole‐2‐ones in high to excellent yields (78%–97%). The high catalytic activity of the synthesized catalyst can be due to the increased dispersion and presence of the copper cation (as a Lewis acid) in Cu(II)@UiO‐66‐AzPh. This nanocatalyst is very efficient and stable and can be easily separated and used up to 5 times without any significant loss of activity.