Oxidation reactions catalysed by molybdenum(VI) complexes grafted on UiO-66 metal-organic framework as an elegant nanoreactor

A heterogeneous catalyst was synthesized by immobilizing Mo(CO)(3) in a UiO-66 metal-organic framework. The benzene ring of the organic linker in UiO-66 was modified via liquid-phase deposition of molybdenum hexacarbonyl, Mo(CO)(6), as starting precursor to form the (arene)Mo(CO)(3) species inside the framework. The structure of this catalyst was characterized using X-ray diffraction, and chemical integrity was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared and diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopic methods. The metal content was analysed with inductively coupled plasma. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to measure particle size and N-2 adsorption measurements to characterize the specific surface area. This catalytic system was efficiently applied for epoxidation of alkenes and oxidation of sulfides. The Mo-containing metal-organic framework was reused several times without any appreciable loss of its efficiency.