Construction of Covalent Organic Framework for Catalysis: Pd/COF-LZU1 in Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling Reaction

TLDR

Covalent organic frameworks are crystalline porous solids with well‑defined structures that hold great promise for catalysis, yet no catalytic example had been reported before this study. This work presents the first use of COF‑LZU1 as a highly efficient catalyst and suggests that the approach will stimulate further design of functional COF materials for catalysis. The imine‑linked COF‑LZU1’s two‑dimensional eclipsed layered‑sheet structure permits metal ion incorporation, and a simple post‑treatment generates a Pd(II)‑containing COF, Pd/COF‑LZU1. Pd/COF‑LZU1 catalyzes Suzuki‑Miyaura coupling with a broad substrate scope, achieving 96‑98 % yields, and demonstrates high stability and easy recyclability.

Abstract

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are crystalline porous solids with well-defined two- or three-dimensional molecular structures. Although the structural regularity provides this new type of porous material with high potentials in catalysis, no example has been presented so far. Herein, we report the first application of a new COF material, COF-LZU1, for highly efficient catalysis. The easily prepared imine-linked COF-LZU1 possesses a two-dimensional eclipsed layered-sheet structure, making its incorporation with metal ions feasible. Via a simple post-treatment, a Pd(II)-containing COF, Pd/COF-LZU1, was accordingly synthesized, which showed excellent catalytic activity in catalyzing the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction. The superior utility of Pd/COF-LZU1 in catalysis was elucidated by the broad scope of the reactants and the excellent yields (96-98%) of the reaction products, together with the high stability and easy recyclability of the catalyst. We expect that our approach will further boost research on designing and employing functional COF materials for catalysis.