lijing

In article 1500363, X. Shi, J. Liu, and co-workers describe a new method for the synthesis of amphoteric yolk-shell structured aluminum phenylphosphonate microspheres with mesoporous shells, overcoming the challenges of precise synthetization of particles with incompatible cores and shells. These microspheres can be used for selective adsorption of cationic and anionic molecules, and provides insight into synthesis of a new family of yolk-shell particles.

Based on a novel ligand 5-(2,6-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)pyridin-4-yl)isophthalic acid (H₄BCP) with large skeletons, a unique porous framework {[Cu₂(BCP)(H₂O)₂]·3DMF}_n (1) assembled by nano-sized and censer-like [Cu₃₀] cages is successfully obtained and structurally characterized. In 1, the large 1D channel in frameworks and window size in the nanocages can enrich methylene blue and capture CO₂, exhibiting the promising applications in environmental protection. More importantly, the explorations on the cycloaddition reaction of CO₂ and aziridines with various substituents suggest that 1 can serve as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for CO₂ conversion with aziridines in a solvent-free system, which can be reused at least ten times without any obvious loss in catalytic activity. This is the first example of metal–organic framework (MOF)-based catalysts in converting CO₂ into high-value oxazolidinones through activating aziridines and CO₂, further extending the applications of MOFs materials in catalysis.

A unique porous framework assembled by nano-sized and censer-like [Cu₃₀]-cages can enrich methylene blue and capture CO₂. Importantly, 1 can effectively catalyze the cycloaddition reaction with CO₂ and aziridines, and can be reused for at least ten times. It represents the first example of metal–organic frameworks–based catalyst for CO₂ conversion with aziridines.