A Porous Metal-Organic Framework Assembled by [Cu 30 ] Nanocages: Serving as Recyclable Catalysts for CO 2 Fixation with Aziridines.

Based on a novel ligand 5-(2,6-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)pyridin-4-yl)isophthalic acid (H4 BCP) with large skeletons, a unique porous framework {[Cu2 (BCP)(H2 O)2 ]·3DMF} n ( 1 ) assembled by nano-sized and censer-like [Cu30 ] cages is successfully obtained and structurally characterized. In 1 , the large 1D channel in frameworks and window size in the nanocages can enrich methylene blue and capture CO2 , exhibiting the promising applications in environmental protection. More importantly, the explorations on the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 and aziridines with various substituents suggest that 1 can serve as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for CO2 conversion with aziridines in a solvent-free system, which can be reused at least ten times without any obvious loss in catalytic activity. This is the first example of metal-organic framework (MOF)-based catalysts in converting CO2 into high-value oxazolidinones through activating aziridines and CO2 , further extending the applications of MOFs materials in catalysis.