Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.134, No.19, 8058-8061, 2012
Chiral Nanoporous Metal-Metallosalen Frameworks for Hydrolytic Kinetic Resolution of Epoxides
Chiral nanoporous metal organic frameworks are constructed by using dicarboxyl-functionalized chiral Ni(salen) and Co(salen) ligands. The Co(salen)based framework is shown to be an efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) of racemic epoxides with up to 99.5% ee. The MOF structure brings Co(salen) units into a highly dense arrangement and close proximity that enhances bimetallic cooperative interactions, leading to improved catalytic activity and enantioselectivity in HKR compared with its homogeneous analogues, especially at low catalyst/substrate ratios.