Mechanochemically synthesized nanoporous metal-organic framework Cu2(BDC)2(DABCO): An efficient heterogeneous catalyst for preparation of carbamates

Nanoporous metal-organic frameworks Cu-2(BDC)(2)(DABCO) (BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate, DABCO = 1,4- diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) was synthesized by ball milling technique and characterized by techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (Fr-IR) and Nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis, CHN elemental analysis, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry (ICP). The copper-catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction of 2-substituted phenols with DMF or N-formyl morpholine was then investigated by employing the synthesized Cu-2(BDC)(2)(DABCO) as a heterogeneous catalyst to form carbamates through C-H activation. The catalyst was recovered and frequently reused without significant decrease in its catalytic activity. In addition, the surface area of the synthesized catalyst in this approach was considerably higher in comparison with the most given values in the literature for this compound. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.