Selective catalytic Knoevenagel condensation by Ni–SiO2 supported heterogeneous catalysts: An environmentally benign approach

Particle shape anisotropy in pickering interfacial catalysis for Knoevenagel condensation

Dispersions of two immiscible liquids stabilized by solid particles are termed as Pickering emulsions. Stability of such emulsions is affected by various parameters such as amount of solid particle, method of emulsification, size, and shape of particles, etc. In this study, MgO samples prepared by different methods and characterized by XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, DLS, and CO2-TPD techniques were utilized for stabilizing o/w Pickering emulsions. The effect of particle shape on Pickering Interfacial Catalysis (PIC) for Knoevenagel condensation was investigated. It was found that in the case of rod and plate shaped particles, emulsion stability and catalytic activity were higher as compared to those obtained with other MgO samples prepared. The applicability of the MgO-PIC system is also successfully demonstrated for gram scale synthesis (85 % yield in 30 min). The MgO-PIC system was found to be reusable for at least five cycles without substantial loss in activity.

Arylidenemalononitriles as Versatile Synthons in Heterocyclic Synthesis

BACKGROUND

Arylidenemalononitriles are valuable synthons for the construction of a variety of novel complex heterocyclic motifs, fused heterocycle derivatives and spirocyclic compounds. They are versatile chemical intermediates and have increasing applications in industry, agriculture, medicine, biological science.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review is to highlight the preparation methods and reactions of arylidenemalononitriles in the synthesis of various heterocyclic compounds.

CONCLUSION

In this review, we have presented the application of arylidenemalononitriles to construct a variety of heterocycles. Various catalysts for the preparation of arylidnemalononitriles have been described.

Catalytically active coordination polymer with a tiny Zn2Se2 ring bridged by bis-selone

The unprecedented architecture of a one-dimensional coordination polymer with a tiny Zn₂Se₂ ring system incorporated in the hydrogen-bonded array has been prepared, where the di-selone ligand functions as a unique neutral bridging ligand. The coordination polymer shows excellent catalytic activity in substituted 8-hydroxy-2-quinolinyl synthesis through Knoevenagel condensation reaction.

Z-Acrylonitrile Derivatives: Improved Synthesis, X-ray Structure, and Interaction with Human Serum Albumin

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

In the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds, acrylonitrile derivatives are the most important and appropriate precursors. These compounds are the most important intermediates and subunits for the enhancement of molecules having pharmaceutical or biological interests. Nitrogen-containing compounds have received extensive consideration in the literature over the years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A facile, economic and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of acrylonitrile derivatives using p-nitrophenylacetonitrile and aromatic/heterocyclic aldehydes in the presence of zinc chloride at room temperature. Spectroscopic data were obtained using the following instruments: Fourier transform infrared spectra (KBr discs, 4000-400 cm-1) by Shimadzu IR-408 Perkin-Elmer 1800 instrument; 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra by Bruker Avance-II 400 MHz using DMSO-d6 as a solvent containing TMS as the internal standard.

RESULTS

To continue our ongoing studies to synthesize heterocyclic and pharmaceutical compounds by mild, facile and efficient protocols, herein we wish to report our experimental results on the synthesis of acrylonitrile derivatives, using various aromatic/heterocyclic aldehydes and p-nitrophenylacetonitrile in the presence of zinc chloride in ethanolic media at room temperature. Some of the new compounds were tested for their human serum albumin activity (HSA) while a study of interaction with HSA protein was performed for compounds 3a and 3b. The results show that compound 3b binds tightly to HSA as compared to compound 3a.

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that acrylonitrile derivatives can be synthesized by an efficient method via the reaction of p-nitrophenylacetonitrile with aromatic/heterocyclic aldehydes by the use of zinc chloride as an effective solid catalyst. The remarkable features of this procedure include excellent yields (90-95%), short reaction period (30 min.), moderate reaction environment, easy workup procedure and managing of the catalyst. This method may find a wide significance in organic synthesis for the synthesis of the Z-acrylonitrile.

Highly Selective pH-Dependent Ozonation of Cyclohexane over Mn/γ-Al2O3 Catalysts at Ambient Reaction Conditions

The selective oxidation of cyclohexane to a mixture of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone (KA oil) is one of the imperative reactions in industrial processes. In this study, the catalytic performance of manganese-supported gamma alumina (Mn/γ-Al2O3) catalysts is investigated in the selective oxidation of cyclohexane at ambient conditions using ozone. The catalysts were prepared by the wet impregnation method, and their physio-chemical properties were studied by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) spectroscopy, and Brunauer Emmett and Teller (BET). The reaction conditions were optimised considering various parameters such as reaction time, pH, and various percentages of the manganese supported in gamma alumina. The oxidation of cyclohexane was conducted in an impinger reactor unit at pH 3, 7, and 11 for 1 h of ozonation time. The aliquots were collected after 30 min and 1 h of ozonation time and analysed with GC-MS and FT-IR spectroscopy. The 2.5% Mn/γ-Al2O3 catalyst exhibited a significantly enhanced catalytic performance at pH 3 and 7 with a percentage conversion of 9% and 15% at pH 3 and 7, respectively, after 30 min of ozonation time. However, after 1 h of ozonation time, the percentage conversions were increased to 23% and 29% at pH 3 and 7, respectively. At pH 11, 5% Mn/γ-Al2O3 exhibit high catalytic performance with a percentage conversion of 19% and 31% after 30 minutes and 1 h of ozonation time, respectively. The percentage selectivity obtained is 100% toward KA oil and/or cyclohexanone depending on pH and reaction time.

Bifunctional Gyroidal MOFs: Highly Efficient Lewis Base and Lewis Acid Catalysts

A family of gyroidal metal-organic frameworks (STUs) composited with transition metal ions and bi-imidazolate ligands (BIm) were prepared and applied as both Lewis base and acid catalysts. Benefiting from the intrinsic basicity of the ligands and the Lewis acidic sites of the open metal centres, the STUs materials show excellent catalytic activities as Lewis base for the Knoevenagel condensation reaction between various aldehydes and malononitrile, and as Lewis acid for cyanosilylation reactions. Among these STUs, STU-4 (Ni(BIm)) shows the best catalytic efficiency (conversions >99 %) in both Knoevenagel condensation and cyanosilylation reactions under mild conditions, providing thus an advanced material for both Lewis base and Lewis acid catalysis.

An ethylene glycol intercalated monometallic layered double hydroxide based on iron as an efficient bifunctional catalyst

An enhanced surface area by virtue of intercalating ethylene glycol in monometallic LDH based on iron has been demonstrated to catalyze efficiently the oxidation and reduction of industrially important organic substrates.

First report of the application of simple molecular complexes as organo-catalysts for Knoevenagel condensation

A series of molecular complexes have been designed, synthesized and used as organo-catalysts for the first time for very efficient Knoevenagel condensation.

Basic polymerized imidazolide-based ionic liquid: an efficient catalyst for aqueous Knoevenagel condensation

A novel basic polymerized ionic liquid (BPIL) with intensive base sites and high surface activity was synthesized and characterized by IR, ¹H NMR and ESI-MS. The BPIL was used as an efficient catalyst for aqueous Knoevenagel condensations.

Green condensation reaction of aromatic aldehydes with active methylene compounds catalyzed by anion-exchange resin under ultrasound irradiation

To realize a practical and green chemistry, two important challenges need to be addressed, namely the effective process for the activation of reaction and efficient, eco-friendly and robust chemical methods for the reaction conversion to target products via highly selective catalytic and reactions. Ultrasonic energy promotes the conversion process through its special cavitational effects. Combined with anion-exchange resin as a heterogeneous, reusable and efficient catalyst, Ultrasonic energy enhances the Knoevenagel condensation and leads to reduced reaction time at lower reaction temperature with less amounts of solvent and catalyst.

Base-free Knoevenagel condensation catalyzed by copper metal surfaces

Commercially available dendritic copper powder catalyses Knoevenagel condensation under mild conditions with high isolated yields obtained by filtration of Cu and subsequent recrystallization.

Ordered mesoporous mixed metal oxides: remarkable effect of pore size on catalytic activity

We report the synthesis of ordered mesoporous NiAl mixed metal oxides (MMOs) from NiAl-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) through a soft template method using pluronic-F127 as the structure-directing agent. Ordered mesopores were obtained by the thermal decomposition of as-synthesized LDHs at different temperatures. The effects of the pluronic-F127 amount and the calcination temperature on the pore size distribution of the MMO were investigated. NiAl MMOs exhibited excellent catalytic activity in the Knoevenagel condensation of benzaldehyde with acidic methylene group-containing malononitrile. Finally, the dependence of the catalytic activity on the surface properties of NiAl MMOs was investigated. The pore diameter and the pore volume of NiAl MMOs were well correlated with the performance of the catalysts. MMO obtained from the calcination of NiAl-F127(3%)LDH at 750 °C for 5 h gave the highest conversion (>99%) in the Knoevenagel condensation in 30 min. The optimum pore diameter for the model reaction described here was 7.7 nm, which gave rise to more than 99% conversion with 100% selectivity. Ethanol gave the best conversion at 60 °C. The regenerated catalyst showed 93.0 and 89.0% of the initial catalytic activity after the first and the second regeneration cycles, respectively.

Choline Chloride and Urea Based Eutectic Solvents: Effective Catalytic Systems for the Knoevenagel Condensation Reactions of Substituted Acetonitriles

The Knoevenagel condensation of aromatic aldehydes with active methylene compounds such as malononitrile, ethyl cyanoacetate, benzimidazole-2-acetonitrile and benzothiazole-2-acetonitrile proceeded very smoothly, in a reusable and cheap choline chloride and urea based deep eutectic solvents. Both reaction time and yield are satisfactory. The advantages of this catalyst are that it is readily available, biodegradable, non-toxic, low cost and is recyclable.

Ionic tagged amine supported on magnetic nanoparticles: synthesis and application for versatile catalytic Knoevenagel condensation in water

Propylamine modified with imidazolium ionic moiety grafted onto magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) was prepared and evaluated as a catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation in water at room temperature.