A metal–organic framework immobilised iridium pincer complex

Abstract

An iridium pincer complex has been immobilised in the metal-organic framework <b>NU-1000</b> using a technique called solvent assisted ligand-incorporation (SALI). The framework proved to be stable under the conditions required to activate the iridium complex and spectroscopic investigations showed formation of the catalytically active iridium dihydride. The Ir-pincer modified <b>NU-1000</b> is an active catalyst for the condensed phase hydrogenation of a liquid alkene (1-decene and styrene) and shows enhanced activity with respect to a homogeneous analogue. Additionally, the Ir-pincer immobilised inside <b>NU-1000</b> operated as an efficient heterogenous catalyst under flow conditions.