Metal–Organic Framework (MOF)-Based Catalytic Systems for Multicomponent Reactions in Sustainable Heterocycle Synthesis: Recent Advances, Mechanistic Insights, and Future Perspectives
7 affiliations
- 1Chemistry Division, Department of H&S, CVR College of Engineering, Vastunagar, Mangalpalli (V), Ibrahimpatnam 501510, Telangana, India
- 2Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, INTI International University, Persiaran Perdana BBN, Putra Nilai, Nilai 71800, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
- 3Department of Chemistry, IFET College of Engineering (Autonomous), Gangarampalaiyam 605108, Tamil Nadu, India
- 4Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Islamic University of Madinah, Madinah 42351, Saudi Arabia
- 5Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Shinawatra University, Pathum Thani 12160, Thailand
- 6Department of Chemical Science, Faculty of Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Kampar Campus, Jalan Universiti, Kampar 31900, Perak, Malaysia
- 7Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska 25, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as versatile heterogeneous catalytic platforms for multicomponent reactions (MCRs), enabling the one-pot synthesis of structurally diverse heterocyclic compounds. Their high specific surface areas, tunable pore environments, well-defined coordination structures, and chemically modifiable active sites provide opportunities to regulate substrate adsorption, activation, diffusion, and product formation. Recent studies have employed MOF-based catalytic systems for the synthesis of pyridines, pyrimidines, pyrans, tetrazoles, pyranopyrazoles, imidazoles, quinolines, triazoles, and spirocyclic heterocycles. This review summarizes recent developments in MOF-based MCRs, with emphasis on catalyst structure, catalytic function, substrate scope, reaction conditions, recyclability, and proposed mechanistic pathways. Attention is given to the relationships among metal nodes, organic linkers, pore architecture, surface functionalization, active-site accessibility, and catalytic performance. The review also examines green-chemistry considerations, including one-pot synthesis, solvent minimization, catalyst recovery, reaction efficiency, and energy requirements. Importantly, the overall sustainability of these systems depends not only on reaction-level performance but also on MOF synthesis, activation, material cost, solvent consumption, metal leaching, catalyst lifetime, and process-scale considerations. Accordingly, quantitative metrics such as process mass intensity, E-factor, reaction mass efficiency, energy consumption, techno-economic assessment, and life-cycle assessment are discussed as important tools for future evaluation. However, the overall sustainability of these systems depends not only on reaction performance but also on MOF synthesis, activation, solvent consumption, energy requirements, material cost, metal leaching, catalyst lifetime, resource utilization, sustainable manufacturing and end-of-life considerations.
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BibTeX
@article{venkatesan2026metalorganic,
title = {{Metal–Organic Framework (MOF)-Based Catalytic Systems for Multicomponent Reactions in Sustainable Heterocycle Synthesis: Recent Advances, Mechanistic Insights, and Future Perspectives}},
author = {Kasi Venkatesan and Jayanthi Barasarathi and M. Rajarajan and Maher Fathalla and Potchanun Sripothong and Xiao-Hui Chu and Lai-Hock Tey and Gabrijel Ondrasek},
journal = {Catalysts},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/catal16110935},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/16/11/935},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Metal–Organic Framework (MOF)-Based Catalytic Systems for Multicomponent Reactions in Sustainable Heterocycle Synthesis: Recent Advances, Mechanistic Insights, and Future Perspectives
AU - Kasi Venkatesan
AU - Jayanthi Barasarathi
AU - M. Rajarajan
AU - Maher Fathalla
AU - Potchanun Sripothong
AU - Xiao-Hui Chu
AU - Lai-Hock Tey
AU - Gabrijel Ondrasek
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Catalysts
DO - 10.3390/catal16110935
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/16/11/935
AB - Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as versatile heterogeneous catalytic platforms for multicomponent reactions (MCRs), enabling the one-pot synthesis of structurally diverse heterocyclic compounds. Their high specific surface areas, tunable pore environments, well-defined coordination structures, and chemically modifiable active sites provide opportunities to regulate substrate adsorption, activation, diffusion, and product formation. Recent studies have employed MOF-based catalytic systems for the synthesis of pyridines, pyrimidines, pyrans, tetrazoles, pyranopyrazoles, imidazoles, quinolines, triazoles, and spirocyclic heterocycles. This review summarizes recent developments in MOF-based MCRs, with emphasis on catalyst structure, catalytic function, substrate scope, reaction conditions, recyclability, and proposed mechanistic pathways. Attention is given to the relationships among metal nodes, organic linkers, pore architecture, surface functionalization, active-site accessibility, and catalytic performance. The review also examines green-chemistry considerations, including one-pot synthesis, solvent minimization, catalyst recovery, reaction efficiency, and energy requirements. Importantly, the overall sustainability of these systems depends not only on reaction-level performance but also on MOF synthesis, activation, material cost, solvent consumption, metal leaching, catalyst lifetime, and process-scale considerations. Accordingly, quantitative metrics such as process mass intensity, E-factor, reaction mass efficiency, energy consumption, techno-economic assessment, and life-cycle assessment are discussed as important tools for future evaluation. However, the overall sustainability of these systems depends not only on reaction performance but also on MOF synthesis, activation, solvent consumption, energy requirements, material cost, metal leaching, catalyst lifetime, resource utilization, sustainable manufacturing and end-of-life considerations.
SN - 2073-4344
ER -