Cu3(BTC)2 as heterogeneous catalyst for the room temperature oxidative hydroxylation of arylboronic acids

A well known copper based-metal organic framework (MOF), namely Cu3(BTC)2, is a suitable heterogeneous catalyst to promote the oxidative room-temperature hydroxylation of arylboronic acids to the corresponding phenols by H2O2. Using 0.5 equiv of H2O2, Cu3(BTC)2 exhibits 80% conversion in 60 min that is higher than 70% conversion achieved with Fe(BTC) under the same conditions and reaction time. Cu3(BTC)2 is reusable with no significant drop in the activity. Furthermore, powder XRD of the reused Cu3(BTC)2 shows no changes in crystallinity compared to the fresh Cu3(BTC)2, indicating catalyst stability is maintained under reaction conditions. The scope of Cu3(BTC)2 as heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidative hydroxylation was studied for various phenylboronic acids.

This work describes the use of Cu3(BTC)2 as heterogeneous catalyst to promote the oxidative hydroxylation of arylboronic acids to the corresponding phenols by H2O2 at room temperature. Cu3(BTC)2 can be reused with no significant drop in the activity.