Ag-NPs embedded in two novel Zn₃/Zn₅-cluster-based metal-organic frameworks for catalytic reduction of 2/3/4-nitrophenol

By utilizing symmetrical pentacarboxylate ligands, 3,5-di(2′,5′-dicarboxylphenyl)benzoic acid (H₅L1) and 3,5-di(2′,4′-dicarboxylphenyl)benzoic acid (H₅L2), two novel porous Zn-MOFs, [Zn₅(μ₃-H₂O)₂(L1)₂]·3DMA·4H₂O (CTGU-3) and [Zn₃(μ₃-OH)L2(H₂O)₃]·H₂O (CTGU-4) have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. CTGU-3 and CTGU-4 exhibit 3D microporous frameworks with flu and dia topologies and possess unique secondary building units [Zn₅(μ₃-H₂O)₂(RCO₂)₆] and [Zn₃(μ₃-OH)(RCO₂)₃], respectively. Such porous systems create a unique space or surface to accommodate Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs), which could efficiently prevent Ag NPs from aggregation and leaching. In this work, two new Ag@Zn-MOF composites, denoted as Ag@CTGU, have been successfully fabricated through solution infiltration, for the reduction of nitrophenol. Compared with CTGU-4, CTGU-3 shows enhanced catalytic efficiency toward the reaction when it is used as a catalyst support of Ag NPs. Moreover, gas sorption and luminescence properties of two compounds were also investigated.