A novel zirconium-based metal–organic framework covalently modified by methyl pyridinium bromide for mild and co-catalyst free conversion of CO2 to cyclic carbonates

Building metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) covalently modified by onium halides is a promising approach to develop efficient MOF-based heterogeneous catalysts for the cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides (CCE) into cyclic carbonates. Herein, we report a novel zirconium-based MOF covalently modified by methyl pyridinium bromide, Zr6O4(OH)4(MPTDC)2.2(N-CH3-MPTDC)3.8Br3.8 ((Br−)CH3-Pyridinium-MOF-1), where MPTDC denotes 3-methyl-4-pyridin-4-yl-thieno[2,3-b] thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylate. The structure and composition of this complex were fully characterized with PXRD, NMR, XPS, TEM and so on. CO2 adsorption experiments show that (Br−)CH3-Pyridinium-MOF-1 has a higher affinity for CO2 than its electrically neutral precursor, which should be attributed to the fact that charging frameworks containing pyridinium salt have stronger polarization to CO2. (Br−)CH3-Pyridinium-MOF-1 integrated reactive Lewis acid sites and Br− nucleophilic anions and exhibited efficient catalytic activity for CCE under ambient pressure in the absence of co-catalysts and solvents. Furthermore, (Br−)CH3-Pyridinium-MOF-1 was recycled after five successive cycles without substantial loss in catalytic activity. The corresponding reaction mechanism also was speculated.