Production of α,β-unsaturated esters via Knoevenagel condensation of buthyraldehyde and ethyl cyanoacetate over amine-containing carbon catalyst

• Amine-containing carbon catalysts were synthesized for α,β-unsaturated esters production.
• Monoethanolamine-functionalization on the carbon led to structural changes.
• Best performance toward to ECPA was obtained at 348 K, being the solid reused for five times.
• Leaching of the sites at elevated temperatures accounted for catalyst deactivation.

Amine-containing carbon catalysts were synthesized to study the production of α,β-unsaturated esters by Knoevenagel condensation of buthyraldehyde and ethyl cyanoacetate. The solids were characterized by XRD, XPS, FTIR, elemental analyses, CO2 adsorption measurements and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. Monoethanolamine-functionalization on the carbon led to structural changes while keeping relatively high surface areas. Although a great number of basic sites provided a good performance in the reaction, leaching of these sites at elevated temperatures accounted for deactivation of the catalyst. The best performance towards ethyl 2-cyano-3-propylacrylate ester was obtained for ACN10 (conversion = 10.7%; selectivity = 100%) at 348 K, being reused for five times.