Functional Networks of Organic and Coordination Polymers: Catalysis of Fructose Conversion

The creation of functional porous nanoscale networks with enhanced reactive group accessibility provides rich promise for novel designs of composite materials. We present a straightforward strategy for the preparation of porous polymer/MOF hybrids via polymerization of organic monomers and cross-linkers impregnated within the pores of the MOFs followed by functionalization of the resulting composite. A poly(maleimide-co-dibinylbenzene) network was synthesized in the presence of MOF MIL-101(Cr), resulting in stable hybrid composites, which were then brominated to give porous hybrids of cross-linked poly(N-bromomaleimide), a polymeric analogue of N-bromosuccinimide, interconnected with crystalline nanoparticles of the MOF. Due to the large porosity and surface area, the active bromine (halamine) groups in the polymer network enabled high activity of the composites in heterogeneous catalysis of conversion of d-fructose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural.