A new superacid hafnium-based metal–organic framework as a highly active heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of benzoxazoles under solvent-free conditions

A new crystalline porous superacid material was prepared by sulfation of a Hf-MOF constructed from a 6-connected Hf node and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate. The new superacid MOF with the presence of sulfate groups coordinated to a Hf-oxo cluster as superacid sites was found to be an effective heterogeneous catalyst for solvent-free heterocyclization for benzoxazole synthesis.