ZnO nanoparticles: An efficient nanocatalyst for the synthesis of β-acetamido ketones/esters via a multi-component reaction

A convenient one-pot multi-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, enolizable ketones or β-keto esters and acetonitrile in the presence of acetyl chloride and 10 mol% ZnO nanoparticles for the synthesis of β-acetamido ketones/esters at room temperature is described.