Nickel-based metal-organic framework as catalyst for chemical fixation of CO2 in oxazolidinone synthesis

A method of fixating CO2 to form a substituted oxazolidinone is described. The method includes mixing a nickel-based metal-organic framework (Ni-MOF) catalyst of formula [Ni3(BTC)2(H2O)3]·(DMF)3(H2O)3, a cocatalyst, an aromatic amine, and at least one epoxide to form a reaction mixture, and further contacting the reaction mixture with a gas stream containing carbon dioxide to react the carbon dioxide in the gas stream with the epoxide and the aromatic amine to form a substituted oxazolidinone mixture. The method further includes adding a polar protic solvent to the substituted oxazolidinone mixture, centrifuging, and filtering to produce a recovered Ni-MOF; and further washing the recovered Ni-MOF with an organochloride solvent and drying for at least 5 hours to produce a recycled Ni-MOF.