Solid base catalysts obtained from hydrotalcite precursors, for Knoevenagel synthesis of cinamic acid and coumarin derivatives

The goal of this paper was to study the synthesis of the cinamic acid, coumarin-3-carboxilic acid and their ethylesters by Knoevenagel condensation using the solid base catalysts obtained from calcined Mg–Al, Mg–Al + Ln (Ln = Dy, Gd) and Li–Al hydrotalcites, under solvent free conditions. Correlations between the basicity of the catalysts and the advancement degree in the pathway of the condensation reaction have also been investigated.