Enhancing catalytic activity of UiO-66 through CuO nanoparticles incorporation: a study on Henry reaction and one-pot allylic C-H bond oxidation of olefins

In this work, we prepared CuO NPs@UiO-66, a zirconium-based metal-organic framework with a nanoporous structure and high surface area, through a solvothermal method involving the in situ incorporation of pre-synthesized CuO nanoparticles. The synthesized material was characterized using various techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms (BET-BJH). The catalytic activity of the synthesized catalyst, CuO NPs@UiO-66, was examined in both the Henry reaction and one-pot allylic C-H bond oxidation of olefins. Remarkably, the catalyst exhibited excellent recyclability, maintaining high yields and activity for up to three cycles.