Amino-functionalized MIL type metal organic frameworks as heterogeneous catalysts for asymmetric electrocarboxylation of (1-chloroethyl)benzene with CO₂

Due to the high specific surface area and tunable pore size of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), the use of MOFs to catalyze CO₂ conversion has increased in recent years. The present study is the first to use three MOFs of MIL types with free amino groups, namely, MIL-101-NH₂(Cr), MIL-101-NH₂(Al) and MIL-53-NH₂(Al), for asymmetric electrocarboxylation of (1-chloroethyl)benzene with CO₂. The electrochemical behavior of three MOFs were discussed. The optically active 2-phenylpropionic acid was obtained using t-Bu(R, R)salen(Co[II]) as the chiral mediate under mild conditions. In order to get the optimal results, the reaction conditions such as the influence of temperature, charge and the quantity of catalysts were investigated.