Highly Efficient Cerium Metal Organic Frameworks (Ce-Uio-66) and Its Inorganic Hybrids Nanocomposite as Novel Heterogenous Catalyst for Knoevenagel Condensation Reaction

Heterogeneous catalysis is a prominent application of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which have garnered significant interest from researchers over the past two decades due to their unique hybrid organic/inorganic nature. This study aimed to synthesize Ce-UiO-66 and its inorganic hybrids (Cds/CeUiO-66/Ag3 PO4) and to assess their effectiveness as heterogeneous catalysts in the Knoevenagel condensation reaction. All materials were synthesized through hydrothermal methods and characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The organic components were analysed with 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The catalytic performance of Ce-UiO-66 and its inorganic hybrids was evaluated under optimized conditions for various aldehyde substrates and malononitrile in aqueous media, focusing on reaction time, catalytic activity, and yield. The results showed that the yield of the target product followed this trend: T1 > Cds/Ce-UiO-66 > Ce-UiO-66. The catalytic system was also tested with various aromatic aldehydes, achieving over 90% conversion at room temperature. Additionally, the catalyst maintained its catalytic efficiency after being reused more than three times. Overall, this research highlights the synthesis of Ce-MOF and its inorganic hybrids and their catalytic performance in the Knoevenagel condensation reaction.