Nickel based metal-organic framework as catalyst for chemical fixation of CO₂in oxazolidinone synthesis

In this paper, we have prepared a Nickel based Metal-Organic Framework (Ni-MOF) with trimesic acid as a linker. This MOF was characterized by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), N2 adsorption isotherm, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), CO2 adsorption isotherm, and NH3-temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). It has a CO2 uptake of 37 cc/g and a Qst value of 20.1 KJ. mol-1. This Ni-MOF on activation [Ni-MOF(A)] was used as a heterogeneous catalyst in the fixation of CO2 with epoxide and aromatic amine to synthesize oxazolidinones in 85 % yield. This catalyst was used under ambient pressure in the presence of tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) as cocatalysts. The scope of the substrates includes a wide range of epoxides and aromatic amines to give oxazolidinones in good yield. The catalyst was also recyclable and can be reused for nine consecutive cycles.