Controllable acid-base bifunctionalized mesoporous silica: Highly efficient catalyst for solvent-free Knoevenagel condensation reaction

A controllable acid-base bifunctionalized mesoporous catalyst with acidic sites and basic sites in adjacent arrangements was prepared via an in situ cleavage of sulfonamide bond on synthetic process. During Knoevenagel condensation reaction of aromatic aldehydes and ethyl cyanoacetate under microwave irradiation in solid media, the mesoporous bifunctionalized catalyst Me-A/B-SBA-15 exhibited higher catalytic activity than those of the corresponding amine-functionalized catalyst and the randomly-arranged acid-base catalyst, showing obvious acid-base cooperativity.

Controllable acid-base bifunctionalized mesoporous silica: highly efficient catalyst for solvent-free Knoevenagel condensation reaction.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► An acid-base bifunctional catalyst is prepared by a co-condensation method.
► Such a catalyst has the acidic and basic sites in adjacent arrangements.
► The catalyst exhibits higher catalytic activity than the monofunctional catalyst.
► There is the obvious acid-base cooperativity in Knoevenagel condensation.