Paal–Knorr reaction catalyzed by metal–organic framework IRMOF-3 as an efficient and reusable heterogeneous catalyst

A highly porous metal–organic framework (IRMOF-3) was synthesized from the reaction of zinc nitrate hexahydrate and 2-amino-1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid by solvothermal method. Physical characterizations of the material were achieved by using a variety of different techniques, including X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), and nitrogen physisorption measurements. The IRMOF-3 was used as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the Paal–Knorr reaction of benzyl amine with 2,5-hexanedione. Excellent conversions were obtained under mild conditions in the presence of 3 mol% catalyst. The IRMOF-3 catalyst could be reused several times without a significant degradation in catalytic activity.

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► IRMOF-3 was synthesized and characterized.
► IRMOF-3 was used as catalyst for the Paal–Knorr reaction.
► High conversions were achieved using catalytic amounts of the IRMOF-3.
► The catalyst could be reused.