[Display omitted] • Eight stable M 3 (C 6 O 6) 2D MOFs survived from kinetic and thermal stability examinations. • Metal centers provide an extra degree of freedom to tune the electronic structures. • The integrated crystal orbital Hamiltonian population is a good descriptor for ORR performance. • Cu 3 (C 6 O 6) has excellent catalytic activity for the ORR with larger limiting potentials compared with Pt. • The present study provides a theoretical workflow for finding new 2D MOF materials with high stability and objective properties. Two-dimensional (2D) conductive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) were an emerging class of potential oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts to replace platinum-containing electrode materials. Herein, by first-principles calculations, we systematically studied the structural stability, electronic properties and ORR catalytic activity of metal-hexahydroxybenzene nanosheets, M 3 (C 6 O 6), M = 3d and 4d transition metals. Based on formation energy, phonon spectrum and ab-initio molecular dynamics analyses, eight monolayer M 3 (C 6 O 6) (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Ru and Rh) show superior thermodynamic, kinetic and thermal stabilities. Further ORR catalytic activity evaluation shown Cu 3 (C 6 O 6) and Rh 3 (C 6 O 6) had promising applications in catalyzing ORR 4 e - pathway, with limiting potentials 0.76 and 0.80 V, respectively. The linear relationship between integrated crystal orbital Hamilton population (ICOHP) and Δ G O H ∗ explains the suitable adsorption energy of OH* on the catalyst, resulting in the excellent ORR activity of Cu 3 (C 6 O 6) and Rh 3 (C 6 O 6). Our study on M 3 (C 6 O 6) provides references for the research of other 2D MOFs as ORR catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]