title: Probing the Lewis acidity and catalytic activity of the metal-organic framework [Cu3(btc)2] (BTC=benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate).
abstract: An optimized procedure was designed for the preparation of the microporous metal-organic framework (MOF) [Cu3(btc)2] (BTC=benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate). The crystalline material was characterized by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, SEM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N2 sorption, thermogravimetry, and IR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO. CO adsorbs on a small number of Cu2O impurities, and particularly on the free CuII coordination sites in the framework. [Cu3(btc)2] is a highly selective Lewis acid catalyst for the isomerization of terpene derivatives, such as the rearrangement of alpha-pinene oxide to campholenic aldehyde and the cyclization of citronellal to isopulegol. By using the ethylene ketal of 2-bromopropiophenone as a test substrate, it was demonstrated that the active sites in [Cu3(btc)2] are hard Lewis acids. Catalyst stability, re-usability, and heterogeneity are critically assessed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, K.U.Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alaerts
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Séguin
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Poelman
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thibault-Starzyk
authors.forename: Pierre A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Dirk E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: De Vos