High-quality Co-MOF-74 crystals were successfully synthesized in 1 h by microwave heating (Co-MOF-74(M)). The XRD pattern and textural properties of Co-MOF-74(M) including the BET surface area (1314 m(2) g(-1)) were virtually identical to those of a sample synthesized in 24 h by the solvothermal method (Co-MOF-74(S), 1327 m(2) g(-1)). Average particle size of the former (ca. 50 mu m long and 8 mu m wide) was, however, significantly smaller than that of the latter (ca. 300 mu m long and 70 mu m wide). The H2O adsorption capacities of the crystals at 25 degrees C were 466 and 605 mgg(-1) for Co-MOF-74(M) and Co-MOF-74(S), respectively. The adsorption isotherms of Co-MOF-74(M) for CO2 and N-2 showed a high CO2 adsorption capacity (288 mgg(-1)) and excellent selectivity over N-2 (>25: 1) at 25 degrees C. Eight consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles established that there was no deterioration in the adsorption capacity, which showed reversible adsorbent regeneration at 100 degrees C under He flow for a total duration of 1100 min. Co-MOF-74(M) also demonstrated excellent catalytic performance in cycloaddition of CO2 to styrene oxide under relatively mild reaction conditions (2.0 MPa, 100 degrees C) with close to 100% selectivity to carbonate confirmed by GC-MS, H-1 NMR, and FT-IR. Styrene oxide conversion increased with CO2 pressure and reaction temperature. No appreciable effect of catalyst particle size was detected, and Co-MOF-74(M) could be reused 3 times without loss of catalytic activity and with no structural deterioration. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.