Zirconium-based metal-organic framework as an efficiently heterogeneous photocatalyst for oxidation of benzyl halides to aldehydes

The development of efficient heterogeneous catalysts for fine chemical synthesis is critical for practical applications. Herein, for the first time, the zirconium-based metal-organic framework (UiO-66-NH2) is applied as an efficiently heterogeneous photocatalyst for conversion of benzyl halides to corresponding aldehydes with high selectivity (about 80 %) and conversion (up to 99 %) in the presence of oxygen and DMF as solvent. Through a series of experiments and analysis, the reaction mechanism is proposed to involve nucleophilic attack of the N-oxide. This study provides a general, environmental and high selective method to prepare benzaldehydes and broadens the application fields of UiO-66-NH2.