LAUSR

A lanthanide metal–organic framework (MOF) Yb(BTC)(H 2 O)·(DMF) (BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate, DMF =  N , N -dimethylformamide) was prepared from Yb(NO 3 ) 3 ·5H 2 O and H 3 BTC using the solvothermal method and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, N 2 adsorption–desorption technology, and temperature-programmed desorption. The results show that Yb(BTC)(H 2 O)·(DMF) is a lanthanide MOF with an excellent thermal stability. The coordinated water molecules and DMF guest molecules were removed from the channels by calcination to form a porous solid Yb (BTC) with coordinatively unsaturated Yb 3+ sites. The BET surface area and pore size of Yb(BTC) are 695 m 2 /g and 0.68 nm, respectively. As a heterogeneous Lewis acid catalyst, the activity of Yb(BTC) for the synthesis of polycarbonate diol (PCDL) via transesterification between diphenyl carbonate and diol was investigated. Compared with nine reported catalysts, Yb(BTC) exhibits the highest catalytic activity for the synthesis of PCDL.