Micro-Cu4I4-MOF: reversible iodine adsorption and catalytic properties for tandem reaction of Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indoles with acetals

Abstract

We report a convenient approach, the first of its kind, to construct a microscale non-metal@MOF composite catalytic host–guest system for an organic tandem reaction. The reported porous Cu₄I₄-MOF is able to reversibly adsorb molecular iodine at room temperature. The obtained I₂@Cu₄I₄-MOF host–guest system can be a highly heterogeneous catalyst to promote the Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indoles with acetals in a one-pot two-step fashion under solvent-free conditions at room temperature.