Synthesis of Diphenyl Sulfide from Iodobenzene and Thiophenol using Metal Organic Framework Cu2(NDC)2(DABCO) as An Efficient Heterogeneous Catalyst

A metal-organic framework Cu2(NDC)2(DABCO) was synthesized from
copper nitrate trihydrate, 2,6-Napthalenedicarboxylic acid (H2NDC), and
1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) by solvothermal method. Its
physicochemical properties were confirmed by several techniques such
as X-ray powder diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR),
scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron
microscopy (TEM). Cu2(NDC)2(DABCO) appeared as well-shaped
crystals. To get diphenyl sulfide as desired product from the C-S cross
coupling reaction of iodobenzene and thiophenol, the
Cu2(NDC)2(DABCO) was used as heterogeneous catalyst in the
presence of LiO-tBu as base. The results showed that the
transformation could proceed with more than 93% reaction conversion
being obtained after 6 h at 120 oC when using 5 mol%
Cu2(NDC)2(DABCO) catalyst in the presence of LiO-tBu. The solid
catalyst could be recovered and reused five times without a significant
degradation in catalytic activity. The coupling reaction could only
proceed to achieve major product in the presence of the
Cu2(NDC)2(DABCO catalyst.