Layered Zn₂[Co(CN)₆](CH₃COO) double metal cyanide: a two-dimensional DMC phase with excellent catalytic performance

Abstract

Double metal cyanides (DMCs) are well known, industrially applied catalysts for ring opening polymerization reactions. In recent years, they have been studied for a variety of catalytic reactions, as well as other applications, such as energy storage and Cs sorption. Herein, a new, layered DMC phase (<b>L-DMC</b>), Zn₂[Co(CN)₆](CH₃COO)·4H₂O, was synthesized. The structure, which crystallizes in the monoclinic space group <i>P</i>2₁/<i>m</i>, consists of positively charged {Zn₂Co(CN)₆}⁺ DMC layers linked through acetate groups and presents a new layered structure to the family of double metal cyanides. <b>L-DMC</b> proved to be a reusable and stable catalyst that exhibited a higher activity than the benchmark DMC catalyst in two important applications: hydroamination of phenylacetylene with 4-isopropylaniline and polymerization of 1,2-epoxyhexane.