Classic coordination compounds as the inspiration for MOFs: selected catalytic applications

Abstract

Coordination chemistry has garnered significant attention across various domains due to its versatility in both academic research and industrial applications, with catalysis being a particularly prominent area of distinction. The exceptional performance of coordination chemistry-based compounds and materials, such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), in catalytic processes is ascribed to their formidable physical and structural attributes. Primarily, possessing accessible vacant active metal sites is crucial for promoting the formation of intermediate or transition states involving the species of interest. This feature facilitates effective interactions between reactant molecules and the active sites of these compounds and supramolecular assembled materials. Professor Tilley's contributions have substantially advanced the field of coordination chemistry for catalysis, as he has consistently aimed to enhance the reactivity and selectivity of these compounds in reactions such as hydrosilylation and water oxidation/evolution. This review aims to summarize the catalytic properties of coordination compounds, in which his contributions have pioneered the incorporation of transition metals into catalysts, and compare them with MOFs applied with the same aim, as heterogeneous catalysts, for these reactions.