Hydrocarbon oxidation over Fe- and Cr-containing metal-organic frameworks MIL-100 and MIL-101–a comparative study

•Metal-organic frameworks MIL-100 and 101 catalyze solvent-free alkene oxidation.•The product selectivity strongly depends on the nature of metal (Fe or Cr).•Catalyst stability reduces in the order Cr-MIL-101(100)•Fe-MIL-100 Fe-MIL-101.•MIL-100 and 101 catalyze oxidation of anthracene with tert-butyl hydroperoxide.•Quantitative anthraquinone yield is attained over Cr-MIL-101. Catalytic properties of Fe- and Cr-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) MIL-100 and MIL-101 have been assessed in two liquid-phase reactions: solvent-free allylic oxidation of alkenes (cyclohexene, α- and β-pinenes) with molecular oxygen and oxidation of anthracene (AN) with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). In the oxidation of alkenes, the product selectivity strongly depends on the nature of metal (Fe or Cr) but, for the same metal, only slightly differs for the MIL-100 and MIL-101 structures. The Fe-containing MOFs afford the formation of unsaturated alcohols while Cr-based MOFs give mainly unsaturated ketones. Both Cr-MIL-100 and Cr-MIL-101 favor decomposition of cyclohexenyl hydroperoxide to produce 2-cyclohexen-1-one with 67–69% selectivity. Stability toward destruction reduced in the order Cr-MIL-101, Cr-MIL-100>Fe-MIL-100>Fe-MIL-101. In the oxidation of anthracene over both Cr-MOFs and Fe-MIL-101, the selectivity toward 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ) attained 100% at 92–100% AN conversion. The turnover frequency (TOF) decreased in the order Cr-MIL-101>Fe-MIL-101>Cr-MIL-100>Fe-MIL-100. Cr-MIL-101 revealed superior catalytic performance in terms of AN conversion, AQ selectivity and TOF. Nearly quantitative yield of AQ was obtained after 1.5h at 100°C in chlorobenzene as solvent. No leaching of active metal occurred under optimal reaction conditions and the MOFs could be recycled several times without deterioration of the catalytic properties.