Photophysical Properties and Heterogeneous Photoredox Catalytic Activities of Ru(bpy)₃@InBTB Metal–Organic Framework (MOF)

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with negatively charged frameworks are suitable for selectively encapsulating cationic guest ions via a cation-exchange process. Encapsulating photoactive [RuL₃]²⁺ polypyridine complexes into the preorganized mesoscale channels of a MOF is a good method for stabilizing the excited states of the complexes. Three new RuL₃@InBTB MOFs were prepared by encapsulating cationic [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ (bpy=2,2′-bipyridine), [Ru(phen)₃]²⁺ (phen=1,10-phenanthroline), and [Ru(bpz)₃]²⁺ (bpz=2,2′-bipyrazine) into the mesopores of a three-dimensional (3D) InBTB MOF (H₃BTB=1,3,5-benzenetribenzoic acid). The photophysical properties of the resulting materials were investigated by photoluminescence (PL) analysis. The photoredox catalytic activities were also investigated for the aza-Henry reaction, hydrogenation of dimethyl maleate, and decomposition of methyl orange under visible light irradiation at room temperature. RuL₃@InBTB MOFs were found to be very stable and highly recyclable photoredox catalytic systems.