title: Hollow zeolitic imidazolate framework nanospheres as highly efficient cooperative catalysts for [3+3] cycloaddition reactions.
abstract: Herein we describe a novel, hollow-structured zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8-H) nanosphere as a highly efficient catalyst for [3+3] cycloaddition reactions. The programmed installation of acidic Zn(2+) species and basic imidazolate moieties creates a synergistic catalytic system. Appropriate positioning of these functionalities in the catalytic system makes it possible to bring two substrates into close proximity and activate them cooperatively. Moreover, the flexible shell and the surface mesopores of ZIF-8-H provide the capacity for favorable binding of various sized substrates, stabilizing intermediates via their multiple force networks and the increased accessibility of the active sites. These features render ZIF-8-H a more highly active promoter than its homogeneous precursors, bulk ZIF-8 and ZIF-8-N nanoparticles. Finally, the robust catalyst can be easily recovered and reused 10 times without loss of catalytic activity.
authors.affiliation: The Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Resource Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, Shanghai Normal University , Shanghai 200234, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yongyi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Xiaotao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Huangyong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hexing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D061565:Cycloaddition Reaction; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000737:chemistry*; D017641:Zeolites / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D007093:Imidazoles; D017641:Zeolites