Solution infiltration of palladium into MOF-5: synthesis, physisorption and catalytic properties

Palladium was infiltrated into the highly porous metal-organic framework MOF-5 {[Zn4O(bdc)(3)], bdc = benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate} using [Pd( acac)(2)] ( acac = acetylacetonate) as the precursor in chloroform solution via 'incipient wetness' impregnation. The specific surface area decreases from 2885 m 2 g 21 to 958 m 2 g(-1) after infiltration. After reduction in hydrogen or under vacuum, the hydrogen adsorption capacity is increased from 1.15 wt% to 1.86 wt% at 1 atm and 77 K. The palladium loaded MOF-5 has a high catalytic activity in styrene hydrogenation comparable to that of palladium on activated carbon, but cis-cyclooctene hydrogenation is considerably slower. Even at room temperature, the catalyst is not stable in air due to the low hydrothermal stability of the MOF-5 support.