Modified fluorapatite as highly efficient catalyst for the synthesis of chalcones via Claisen–Schmidt condensation reaction

•Fluorapatite is modified by sodium nitrate to lead to a bifunctional acid–base catalyst.•Modified fluorapatite efficiently catalyze Claisen–Schmidt condensation reaction between aldehydes with substituted ketones.•Modified fluorapatite was easily recovered and efficiently reused.•Plausible reaction mechanism is proposed.

In the present study, we investigated the synthesis of fluorapatite using a pseudo sol–gel process and the chemical modification of this new catalyst support via impregnation of sodium nitrate followed by calcination at 550 °C in order to enhance its catalytic performance. This approach was used to obtain a bi-functional catalyst for Claisen–Schmidt condensation. Indeed, this heterogeneous catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity and high selectivity for the synthesis of chalcones from direct aromatic aldehydes with substituted ketones at room temperature. The operational simplicity, excellent yields of the products and the recyclability of the catalyst are the main advantages of this method.

Graphical abstractThe synthesis of chalcones from direct aromatic aldehydes with substituted ketones at room temperature over sodium-modified fluorapatite is described.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide