Facile functionalization of graphene oxide with ethylenediamine as a solid base catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation reaction

•Grafting of ethylenediamine on graphene oxide in room temperature was achieved.•Excellent performance was obtained in Knoevenagel condensation reaction.•The grafting of amine on graphene oxide was the main active sites.

A facile and efficient functionalization approach for the grafting of ethylenediamine on graphene oxide (GO) was developed. The catalytic performances of the amine grafted GO samples were investigated in Knoevenagel condensation reactions in mild conditions. The samples were characterized by FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The results indicated that the graft of amine on the surface of GO was mainly by a nucleophilic ring opening reaction between the amine and the epoxide group of GO. The amine grafted GO with ethylenediamine can be employed as an effective and stable catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation of benzaldehyde with malononitrile.

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