Tuning Zr12O22 Node Defects as Catalytic Sites in the Metal-Organic Framework hcp UiO-66

Defects in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) play important roles in MOF reactivity and catalysis. Now, we report evidence of the reactivity and the quantitative characterization of the missing linker defects on the Zr12O22 nodes in the MOF hcp UiO-66 (these are paired Zr6O8 nodes bridged by OH groups) and those on the Zr6O8 nodes of the MOF UiO-66. The defect sites catalyze the ring-opening reactions of epoxides with alcohols, and new sites formed by removal of bridging OH groups on the Zr12O22 nodes also participate in the catalysis. The hcp UiO-66 was synthesized from UiO-66 and from molecular precursors, and, under various synthesis conditions, the nodes incorporated acetate ligands, where linkers were missing, and the number of these ligands was controlled by the synthesis conditions. These ligands are inhibitors of the catalytic reactions, and their removal by reaction with, for example, methanol (to form, for example, methyl acetate) preceded catalysis on the defect sites. The former MOF incorporated...