Synthesis of vanillin via a catalytically active Cu( ii )-metal organic polyhedron

Crystalline Cu( ii )-MOP 1 was employed for the first time in the catalytic conversion of trans -ferulic acid to vanillin. The generation of uncoordinated Cu( ii ) metal sites within MOP 1 by activation as well as sonication, revealed its catalytic potential that afforded a reaction yield of 60%. Complementary cyclic voltammetry experiments (CVs) demonstrated the formation of the complex Cu–H 2 O 2 , which supported the reaction mechanism proposed here.