Three-dimensional mesoporous cage type aluminosilicate: An efficient catalyst for ring opening of epoxides with aromatic and aliphatic amines

Three-dimensional mesoporous aluminosilicate catalysts (AlKIT-5) with cage type porous structure were prepared using Pluronic F127 as a structure-directing agent in a highly acidic medium. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption, and TPD of NH3. The acidity and the acid strength of the AlKIT-5 were controlled by varying the amount of Al in the silica framework of the mesochannels. Further, the catalysts were utilized for a facile nucleophilic ring opening of epoxides with various aromatic and aliphatic amines under mild reaction condition. The reactions were found to be highly selective and efficient, affording the corresponding β-aminoalcohols in good yield. It was found that the catalyst is recyclable and the activity of the catalyst was not diminished even after several reaction cycles.