Metal-Catecholate Frameworks as Solid Basic Catalysts

Metal catecholate frameworks, based on 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene and bivalent metal ions (Ni 2+ , Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Sr 2+ and Ba 2+ ) were synthesized, characterized with powder X-ray diffraction and N 2 physisorption, and evaluated as catalysts in Knoevenagel condensation and Michael addition reactions. The large number of catecholate oxygen atoms in these materials resulted in a high catalytic activity which was shown to be a function of both the porosity of the material and the electronegativity of the metal ion.