Researchers from the Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have made a significant breakthrough in the development of chiral metal-organic frameworks (CMOFs). These innovative materials combine ultrahigh surface areas, remarkable chemical stability, and cost-effective synthesis, making them ideal candidates for practical applications in asymmetric catalysis.
The team introduced a mixed-ligand strategy, utilizing a combination of inexpensive chiral azoles and achiral carboxylic acids, to create a series of CMOFs named FIR-101 to FIR-106. These materials exhibit exceptional structural features, such as multilevel chirality and an ultra-tunable framework capable of accommodating various ligands and metal ions. One of the synthesized frameworks, S-FIR-106, boasts a record-breaking surface area of 3040 m²/g, making it one of the most porous chiral MOFs reported to date.
In addition to their impressive structural properties, the CMOFs demonstrate outstanding stability in various solvents, wide pH ranges (2–12), and high thermal conditions, outperforming many previously reported chiral MOFs. The frameworks also retain their crystallinity and integrity after rigorous testing, proving their robustness for long-term use.
The research highlights the potential of these CMOFs as heterogeneous catalysts for asymmetric transformations. For example, S-FIR-101 successfully catalyzed the Oxa-Diels-Alder reaction, achieving high yields and enantioselectivity. By fine-tuning the metal centers in the framework, the team further enhanced the catalytic performance, with one variant achieving an enantiomeric excess (ee) of up to 98%.
This innovative approach not only reduces the cost of producing high-performance chiral catalysts but also allows for scalable synthesis, with over 100 grams of S-FIR-101 produced in a single batch. The study paves the way for the industrialization of CMOFs in fields such as pharmaceuticals and fine chemical production.
About the Research Team
This research was conducted by scientists at the State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The study was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
