Preparation and catalytic application of sulfonated PVA-Zr-pillared clay nanocomposite materials towards one pot synthesis of hexahydropyrimidines

• Zr-pillared clay-sulfonated polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposite system is synthesized
• Composite system show expanded interlayer with well dispersed polymeric species.
• The sulfonated polymer is trapped in the lateral space between the Zr-pillars.
• Synthesis of hexahydropyrimidines catalyzed by the nanocomposite catalytic system.

A series of sulfonated polyvinyl alcohol-Zr-pillared clay nanocomposites were synthesized. A low molecular weight polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was sulfonated using chlorosulfonic acid. The sulfonated PVA was intercalated inside the parent clay and Zr-pillared clay (Zr-P) matrix. In an alternative approach, the polyvinyl alcohol was initially intercalated into the clay and Zr-P structure followed by in-situ sulfonation inside the clay matrix. The composite materials were characterized using XRD, FTIR, Raman, UV–vis and FE-SEM analytical techniques. Expansion in clay interlayer due to insertion of the polymeric species and the Zr-pillars was observed from XRD study. FTIR and UV–vis study revealed presence of hydrated sulfonic acid clusters in the composite materials. The clay sheets were largely present in an exfoliated state in the clay-polymer composite materials. Insertion of the Zr-pillar imparts structural rigidity and consequent changes in the morphological features. The catalytic activity of the Zr-pillared clay-sulfonated polyvinyl alcohol composite materials has been investigated for synthesis of hexahydropyrimidines by multicomponent condensation of substituted aniline, formaldehyde and β-dicarbonyl compounds. The composite materials were found to be highly active for synthesis of structurally diverse hexahydropyrimidines in high yield and purity.

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