Gold was supported on a functionalized MOF-5 by impregnation method. The catalyst Au/MOF-5 was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD)

N2 adsorption-desorption

infrared spectra (IR)

thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analyses (TG-DTA)

transmission electro microscopy (TEM)

and inductivity coupled plasma (ICP). Its catalytic performance was examined in one-pot synthesis of structurally divergent propargylamines via three component coupling of aldehyde

alkyne

and amine (A3) in 1

4-dioxane. The results showed that the Au/MOF-5 catalyst displayed high activity (high aldehyde consumption rate and turn-over number at 120℃: 18.7 mmol·(g Au)-1·h-1 and 14.7

based on total gold content) and 100% selectivity for propargylamines. Various aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes were also able to undergo the A3 coupling on the catalyst Au/MOF-5. It was also found that the conversion of benzaldehyde was higher on the catalyst for aryl aldehydes with electron-withdrawing group bonded on benzene ring than for those with an electron-donating group. There was good conversion of benzaldehyde for secondary amines and N-alkyl aniline such as piperidine

pyrrolidine

morpholine

diethylamine

and N-methylaniline. It was also found that the conversion of benzaldehyde decreased with increasing chain length of straight-chain alkyl substituted phenylacetylene. Au/MOF-5 catalyst could be recycled at least three times

and the activity only decreased slightly.