Metal Nanocrystals Embedded in Single Nanocrystals of MOFs Give Unusual Selectivity as Heterogeneous Catalysts

The growth of nanocrystalline metal–organic frameworks (nMOFs) around metal nanocrystals (NCs) is useful in controlling the chemistry and metric of metal NCs. In this Letter, we show rare examples of nMOFs grown in monocrystalline form around metal NCs. Specifically, Pt NCs were subjected to reactions yielding Zr(IV) nMOFs [Zr6O4(OH)4(fumarate)6, MOF-801; Zr6O4(OH)4(BDC)6 (BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), UiO-66; Zr6O4(OH)4(BPDC)6 (BPDC = 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylate), UiO-67] as a single crystal within which the Pt NCs are embedded. These constructs (Pt⊂nMOF)nanocrystal are found to be active in gas-phase hydrogenative conversion of methylcyclopentane (MCP) and give unusual product selectivity. The Pt⊂nUiO-66 shows selectivity to C6-cyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane and benzene that takes place with 100 °C lower temperature than the standard reaction (Pt-on-SiO2). We observe a pore size effect in the nMOF series where the small pore of Pt⊂nMOF-801 does not produce the same products, while the larger pore Pt⊂nUiO-67 catalyst provides the same products but with different selectivity. The (Pt⊂nMOF)nanocrystal spent catalyst is found to maintain the original crystallinity, and be recyclable without any byproduct residues.