Ag-NPs embedded in two novel Zn3/Zn5-clusterbased metal-organic frameworks for catalytic reduction of 2/3/4-nitrophenol

By utilizing symmetrical pentacarboxylate ligands, 3,5-di(2', 5'-dicarboxylphenyl) benzoic acid (H(5)L1) and 3,5-di(2', 4'-dicarboxylphenyl) benzoic acid (H(5)L2), two novel porous Zn-MOFs, [Zn-5(mu(3)-H2O)(2)(L1)(2)]center dot 3DMA center dot 4H(2)O (CTGU-3) and [Zn-3(mu(3)-OH) L2(H2O)(3)]center dot H2O (CTGU-4) have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. CTGU-3 and CTGU-4 exhibit 3D microporous frameworks with flu and dia topologies and possess unique secondary building units [Zn-5(mu(3)-H2O)(2)(RCO2)(6)] and [Zn-3(mu(3)-OH)(RCO2)(3)], respectively. Such porous systems create a unique space or surface to accommodate Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs), which could efficiently prevent Ag NPs from aggregation and leaching. In this work, two new Ag@ZnMOF composites, denoted as Ag@CTGU, have been successfully fabricated through solution infiltration, for the reduction of nitrophenol. Compared with CTGU-4, CTGU-3 shows enhanced catalytic efficiency toward the reaction when it is used as a catalyst support of Ag NPs. Moreover, gas sorption and luminescence properties of two compounds were also investigated.