A NbO type Cu(ii) metal-organic framework showing efficient catalytic activity in the Friedländer and Henry reactions.

A three-dimensional NbO type porous metal-organic framework 1 containing both tertiary amine groups and paddle wheel dinuclear Cu2(COO)4 secondary building units as the active centre was synthesized at room temperature. The activated framework 1' can be used as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of quinoline derivatives by the Friedländer reaction and for the synthesis of β-nitroalcohols by the Henry (nitroaldol) reaction. This MOF-based heterogeneous catalyst is easily recycled and reused further without losing its structural integrity and catalytic activity.