Synthesis and catalytic application of MOF-808 AA as heterogeneous catalyst in catalytic transfer hydrogenation reactions of α-Keto amides

In this study, MOF-808 AA was synthesized by modulating the ratio of DMF to acetic acid, and its catalytic performance was evaluated in the transfer hydrogenation of α-keto amides using isopropanol (IPA) as a green hydrogen source and solvent. Furthermore, the methanol activation method was successfully applied to modify MOF-808 AA, resulting in a significantly enhanced catalyst that surpasses the performance of its pristine counterpart in the catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) of α-keto amides. The catalytic conversion of α-keto amide to α‑hydroxy amide proceeded with remarkable efficiency, yielding 84–99 % conversion within a remarkably brief reaction period of 30 min. This protocol showcased remarkable catalytic versatility, efficiently converting a diverse range of α-keto amides, both activating and deactivating substituents on the aniline ring and benzene rings attached to the keto group. A comprehensive characterization of the material's physicochemical properties was conducted using a range of analytical techniques, including, PXRD, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, ammonia TPD, TGA, XPS, FTIR, SEM-EDX, CHN(O) analysis, and ICP-OES. These techniques thoroughly understood the material's structure, composition, and properties. M-MOF 808 AA demonstrated exceptional stability and reusability as a true heterogeneous catalyst, maintaining its activity without any discernible loss over at least four consecutive reaction cycles. A gram-scale conversion was successfully achieved to demonstrate the bulk scalability and industrial potential of the methanol-activated MOF-808 AA catalyst, highlighting its promise for large-scale synthesis and applications.