Hammett Parameter in Microporous Solids as Macroligands for Heterogenized Photocatalysts

Here we present a series of heterogeneous catalysts based on metal–organic frameworks and microporous polymers used as macroligands for heterogenized organometallic complexes. We show that both homogeneous and heterogenized catalysts follow the same linear correlation between the electronic effect of the ligand, described by the Hammett parameter, and the catalytic activity. This correlation highlights the crucial impact of the local electronic environment surrounding the active catalytic center over the long-range framework structure of the porous support. The rational design of heterogenized catalysts can thus be guided by molecular chemistry rules. The conception of highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst based on porous polymer support and driven by the Hammett parameter of bipyridine-chelating macroligand is demonstrated here for the Rh-catalyzed photoreduction of carbon dioxide with turnover frequencies up to 28 h–1, among the highest reported for heterogeneous photocatalytic formate production.