MOF-808 as a Highly Active Catalyst for the Diastereoselective Reduction of Substituted Cyclohexanones.

Zr-containing MOF-808 is an excellent heterogeneous catalyst for the diastereoselective Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction of substituted cyclohexanones. The presence of substituents at the 2 or 3 position of the cyclohexanone ring strongly drives the reaction towards the formation of one of the two possible isomers. For 3-methyl cyclohexanone, the available space inside the MOF pores allows the formation of the bulkier transition state leading to the thermodynamically stable 3--cyclohexanol.