Production of α,β-unsaturated esters via Knoevenagel condensation of buthyraldehyde and ethyl cyanoacetate over amine-containing carbon catalyst

•Amine-containing carbon catalysts were synthesized for α,β-unsaturated esters production.•Monoethanolamine-functionalization on the carbon led to structural changes.•Best performance toward to ECPA was obtained at 348 K, being the solid reused for five times.•Leaching of the sites at elevated temperatures accounted for catalyst deactivation.

Amine-containing carbon catalysts were synthesized to study the production of α,β-unsaturated esters by Knoevenagel condensation of buthyraldehyde and ethyl cyanoacetate. The solids were characterized by XRD, XPS, FTIR, elemental analyses, CO2 adsorption measurements and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. Monoethanolamine-functionalization on the carbon led to structural changes while keeping relatively high surface areas. Although a great number of basic sites provided a good performance in the reaction, leaching of these sites at elevated temperatures accounted for deactivation of the catalyst. The best performance towards ethyl 2-cyano-3-propylacrylate ester was obtained for ACN10 (conversion = 10.7%; selectivity = 100%) at 348 K, being reused for five times.