A new class of organic-inorganic hybrid composite materials, composites of a fluoroalkyl fluorophthalocyanine and a solid-state support containing an imidazole group. The new class of composite materials can be used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the heterogeneous oxidation organic molecules in aqueous and some organic solvents systems is claimed.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a porous metal-organic framework by reacting at least one metal compound in which the metal is Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga or In with at least one at least bidentate organic compound and also the use of such porous metal-organic frameworks.

In one aspect, the present invention provides catalysts for the carbonylation of heterocycles. The inventive catalysts feature metal-ligand complexes having cationic functional groups tethered to the ligand, wherein the tethered cationic groups are associated with anionic metal carbonyl species. The invention also provides methods of using the inventive catalysts to affect the ring opening carbonylation of epoxides.