Facile synthesis of ultrathin metal-organic framework nanosheets for Lewis acid catalysis

摘要

Ultrathin metalorganic framework (MOF) nanosheets are attracting great interest in catalysis due to their unique and intriguing two-dime nsional (2D) features. Although many progresses have been achieved, it is still highly desirable to develop novel strategies for controllable synthesis of the well-defined ultrathin MOF nanosheets. Herein we report a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-assisted route to synthesize the ultrathin Ni-MOF nanosheets characteristic of 1.5 nm in thickness, in which PVP is reacted with 2-aminoterephthalic acid (H2BDC-NH2) via formation of C=N bon d, followed by coord inatio n with Ni2+ io ns to form the ultrathi n MOF n anosheets. Impressively, when used in the Kno eve nagel condensation reactions of propane dinitrile with different aldehydes, ultrathin Ni-MOF nanosheets display the significantly enhanced catalytic activity and good stability in respect with the bulk Ni-MOF, mainly owing to the exposed active sites as well as facile mass transfer and diffusion of substrates and products.