A simple route to magnetically separable mesoporous silica with high surface area and large pore: A recyclable catalyst for aldol reaction

•Simple synthesis of magnetically separable mesoporous silica•High surface area, large pore volume, and good magnetic response are observed.•The magnetic SBA-15 composites efficiently catalyze the aldol reaction.•The spent catalysts are readily recovered with magnets.

Magnetic mesoporous silica composites were prepared by embedding magnetic oxide nanoparticles into abundance of host silica matrix. The resultant composites possess ordered hexagonal mesopores, very high surface area of up to 1124 m2/g, large pore volume (1.324 cm3/g), and large mesopore (> 10 nm), as well as good magnetic response. After aminoalkylsilylation, the magnetic SBA-15 composites were demonstrated to be recyclable heterogeneous catalysts for efficient catalytic aldol reaction inside the nanochannels.