**The Synthesis of N-(Pyridin-2-yl)-Benzamides from Aminopyridine and Trans-Beta-Nitrostyrene by Fe2Ni-BDC Bimetallic Metal–Organic Frameworks**

**Trinh Duy Nguyen 1,2,\* , Oanh Kim Thi Nguyen 1,2 , Thuan Van Tran 1,2 , Vinh Huu Nguyen 1,2 , Long Giang Bach <sup>2</sup> , Nhan Viet Tran <sup>3</sup> , Dai-Viet N. Vo <sup>1</sup> , Tuyen Van Nguyen <sup>4</sup> , Seong-Soo Hong <sup>5</sup> and Sy Trung Do <sup>4</sup>**


Received: 28 June 2019; Accepted: 26 August 2019; Published: 1 November 2019

**Abstract:** A bimetallic metal–organic framework material, which was generated by bridging iron (III) cations and nickel (II) cations with 1,4-Benzenedicarboxylic anions (Fe2Ni-BDC), was synthesized by a solvothermal approach using nickel (II) nitrate hexahydrate and iron (III) chloride hexahydrate as the mixed metal source and 1,4-Benzenedicarboxylic acid (H2BDC) as the organic ligand source. The structure of samples was determined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, and nitrogen physisorption measurements. The catalytic activity and recyclability of the Fe2Ni-BDC catalyst for the Michael addition amidation reaction of 2-aminopyridine and nitroolefins were estimated. The results illustrated that the Fe2Ni-BDC catalyst demonstrated good efficiency in the reaction under optimal conditions. Based on these results, a reaction mechanism was proposed. When the molar ratio of 2-aminopyridine and trans-β-nitrostyrene was 1:1, and the solvent was dichloromethane, the isolated yield of pyridyl benzamide reached 82%; at 80 ◦C over 24 h. The catalyst can be reused without a substantial reduction in catalytic activity with 77% yield after six times of reuse.

**Keywords:** metal–organic framework; bimetallic metal–organic frameworks; decarboxylative amidation
