Mixed-Metal Strategy on Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for Functionalities Expansion: Co Substitution Induces Aerobic Oxidation of Cyclohexene over Inactive Ni-MOF-74

Different amounts of Co-substituted Ni-MOF-74 have been prepared via a post-synthetic metal exchange. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption/desorption, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analyses indicated the successful metathesis between Co and Ni in Ni-MOF-74 to form the solid-solution-like mixed-metal Co/Ni-MOF-74. It was found that introduction of active Co into the Ni-MOF-74 framework enabled the inert Ni-MOF-74 to show activity for cyclohexene oxidation. Since Co was favorably substituted at positions more accessible to the substrate, the mixed-metal Co/Ni-MOF-74 showed superior catalytic performance, compared with pure Co-MOF-74 containing a similar amount of Co. This study provides a facile method to develop solid-solution-like MOFs for heterogeneous catalysis and highlights the great potential of this mixed-metal strategy in the development of MOFs with specific endowed functionalities.