Synthesis of MOFs for heterogeneous catalysis via linker design

Metal–organic frameworks have been proved as ideal platforms for heterogeneous catalysis, and they have been utilized in a wide range of chemical reactions with promising catalytic performance. Due to the multicomponent nature of MOFs, active sites can be functionalized on metal nodes, organic struts, and/or encapsulated within the pores. Among them, linker functionalization provides a direct and efficient way to build MOFs with high loadings of catalytic-active sites. In this review, we will discuss the recent advances in synthesizing MOF-based catalysts through rational linker design in catalogues of different types of catalytic active sites. Reactions catalyzed by those functionalized materials, along with major findings on the relationship between MOF structures and their catalytic performance, will also be summarized.