Dynamic functionalised metallogel: An approach to immobilised catalysis with improved activity

A metal–organic gel (MOG) route to immobilised catalysts has been developed based on the reversibility of coordination bond formation in a Fe3+–carboxylate MOG. The ferric gel was rationally designed based on a bifunctional ligand, 5-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (L1), in which the imidazole N atom may further bind to a soft ion like Pd2+ more strongly due to the HSAB matching. Palladium(II) was successfully loaded in the gel to yield a supported coordination catalyst. Compared with its homogeneous counterparts, the immobilised gel catalyst exhibited significantly improved catalytic activity under mild conditions as shown in Suzuki–Miyaura C–C coupling, and could be reused for several times.

A metal–organic gel route to immobilised catalysts has been developed based on the reversibility of coordination bond formation in a ferric gel based on 5-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-1,3-dicarboxylic acid. Palladium(II) was efficiently loaded in the gel due to the HSAB matching. The immobilised gel exhibited significantly improved catalytic activity as shown in Suzuki–Miyaura coupling, and could be reused.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (67 K)Download as PowerPoint slide