Pillared Metal–Organic Framework Initiating Intermolecular Atom-Transfer Radical Addition via Visible-Light-Induced Electron Transfer Activation of Haloalkanes

Herein, a novel metal-organic framework (MOF) with a pillared-layer structure was rationally synthesized to initiate intermolecular atom-transfer radical addition (ATRA) via photoinduced electron transfer activation of haloalkanes. The MOF synthesized via the controllable pillared-layer method is of excellent visible-light absorption and high chemical stability. Photocatalytic experiments show the atom transfer of various alkyl halides (R-X, X = Cl/Br/I) onto diverse olefins was successfully achieved to produce functional ATRA products. The mechanism and experimental investigations reveal the prepared MOF serves as an efficient photocatalyst with strong reduction potential to activate haloalkane substrates via photoinduced electron transfer, generating a highly reactive alkyl radical to trigger the ATRA reaction. Key events in the ATRA reaction, including alkyl radical photogeneration as well as halide transfer, have been further regulated to achieve preferable photocatalytic performance with higher yields, shorter reaction time, and desirable cycling capability. It is notable that the work is the first report on photoinduced electron transfer activation of halides by a MOF photocatalyst for the ATRA reaction, providing a new blueprint for MOFs to develop photoinduced radical reactions.