title: Synthesis modulation as a tool to increase the catalytic activity of metal-organic frameworks: the unique case of UiO-66(Zr).
abstract: The catalytic activity of the zirconium terephthalate UiO-66(Zr) can be drastically increased by using a modulation approach. The combined use of trifluoroacetic acid and HCl during the synthesis results in a highly crystalline material, with partial substitution of terephthalates by trifluoroacetate. Thermal activation of the material leads not only to dehydroxylation of the hexanuclear Zr cluster but also to post-synthetic removal of the trifluoroacetate groups, resulting in a more open framework with a large number of open sites. Consequently, the material is a highly active catalyst for several Lewis acid catalyzed reactions.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Arenbergpark 23, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vermoortele
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bueken
authors.forename: Gaëlle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Le Bars
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van de Voorde
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vandichel
authors.forename: Kristof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Houthoofd
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vimont
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daturi
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waroquier
authors.forename: Veronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Van Speybroeck
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kirschhock
authors.forename: Dirk E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: De Vos