Lewis Acid Activation of a Hydrogen Bond Donor Metal–Organic Framework for Catalysis

Abstract

A new metal–organic framework (MOF) composed of urea-containing tetracarboxylate struts was synthesized, and its hydrogen bonding capabilities were evaluated. The catalytic performance of this heterogeneous framework is enhanced through preactivation with silyl Lewis acids, leading to Friedel–Crafts reaction rates greater than those of common homogeneous hydrogen bond donors.