Scalable synthesis of MIL-88A(Fe) for efficient aerobic oxidation of cyclohexene to 2-cyclohexene-1-ol

Herein, we reported a facile and scalable approach for the synthesis of Fe-based MOF MIL-88A(Fe) via a simple liquid-phase route at atmosphere pressure, and its application as a heterogeneous catalyst for the efficient aerobic oxidation of cyclohexene to value-added 2-cyclohexene-1-ol. Over 130 g of spindle-shaped MIL-88A(Fe) nanocrystals with high crystallinity, monodispersed particle size, and large specific surface area were easily synthesized per batch according to our method. The resultant MIL-88A(Fe) exhibited a high catalytic activity (conversion: 81%) with 70% selectivity for 2-cyclohexene-1-ol in the aerobic oxidation of cyclohexene with O 2 as the sole oxidant under mild reaction conditions (0.5 MPa of O 2 , 353 K for 8 h), outperforming the analogues reported in the literatures. The combined experimental and theoretical approach support the reaction mechanism of the oxidation of cyclohexene via both the free radical reaction pathway and Fe-mediated reaction pathway, resulting in the selective formation of 2-cyclohexene-1-ol.