Quaternary ammonium salt gemini surfactants containing perfluoroalkyl tails catalyzed one-pot Mannich reactions in aqueous media

A newly prepared quaternary ammonium salt (QAS) gemini fluorosurfactants efficiently catalyze one-pot Mannich reactions of aldehydes, amines and ketones in aqueous media at ambient temperature to afford corresponding β-aminocarbonyl compounds in good to excellent yields. In addition, the gemini fluorosurfactant catalysts were recovered and reused for three times with little loss of their catalytic activities.

Graphical abstractA new perfluorooctylated quaternary ammonium salt (QAS) gemini surfactant was synthesized and used as organic catalyst to promote Mannich reactions in water at room temperature successfully. Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide