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Selective Catalytic Chemistry at Rhodium(II) Nodes in Bimetallic Metal–Organic Frameworks
Author(s) -
Shakya Deependra M.,
Ejegbavwo Otega A.,
Rajeshkumar Thayalan,
Senanayake Sanjaya D.,
Brandt Amy J.,
Farzandh Sharfa,
Acharya Narayan,
Ebrahim Amani M.,
Frenkel Anatoly I.,
Rui Ning,
Tate Gregory L.,
Monnier John R.,
Vogiatzis Konstantinos D.,
Shustova Natalia B.,
Chen Donna A.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201908761
Subject(s) - bimetallic strip , isostructural , catalysis , chemistry , metal organic framework , rhodium , oxidation state , dissociation (chemistry) , propane , propene , metal , density functional theory , inorganic chemistry , heterogeneous catalysis , adsorption , crystal structure , organic chemistry , computational chemistry
Abstract We report the first study of a gas‐phase reaction catalyzed by highly dispersed sites at the metal nodes of a crystalline metal–organic framework (MOF). Specifically, CuRhBTC (BTC 3− =benzenetricarboxylate) exhibited hydrogenation activity, while other isostructural monometallic and bimetallic MOFs did not. Our multi‐technique characterization identifies the oxidation state of Rh in CuRhBTC as +2, which is a Rh oxidation state that has not previously been observed for crystalline MOF metal nodes. These Rh 2+ sites are active for the catalytic hydrogenation of propylene to propane at room temperature, and the MOF structure stabilizes the Rh 2+ oxidation state under reaction conditions. Density functional theory calculations suggest a mechanism in which hydrogen dissociation and propylene adsorption occur at the Rh 2+ sites. The ability to tailor the geometry and ensemble size of the metal nodes in MOFs allows for unprecedented control of the active sites and could lead to significant advances in rational catalyst design.