Efficient, stable, and reusable Lewis acid–surfactant-combined catalyst: One-pot Biginelli and solvent-free esterification reactions

•Preparation of cerium(III) trislaurylsulfonate (Ce(LS)3) and characterization by SEM, SEM-EDX, XRD, NMR, FT-IR, TG, and elemental analysis.•Extend the application of Ce(LS)3 in one-pot Biginelli reaction and esterification under neat condition.•Ce(LS)3 is an efficient, air stable and reusable micro-reactor.

Cerium(III) trislaurylsulfonate (Ce(LS)3), a Lewis acid and surfactant combined catalyst, was prepared and characterized by SEM, SEM-EDX, XRD, NMR, FT-IR, TG, and elemental analysis. Ce(LS)3 was found to be stable and efficient to catalyze one-pot Biginelli and solvent-free esterification reactions. Furthermore, Ce(LS)3 is easy to recycle after reaction by pouring into cold water and filtration. Present work will shed deep insight into the understanding of the catalytic nature of LASCs, and extend its application in important organic transformations.

Graphical abstractCerium(III) trislaurylsulfonate (Ce(LS)3), a Lewis acid and surfactant combined catalyst, was prepared and characterized by SEM, SEM-EDX, XRD, NMR, FT-IR, TG, and elemental analysis. Ce(LS)3 was found to be stable and efficient to catalyze one-pot Biginelli and solvent-free esterification reactions. Furthermore, Ce(LS)3 is easy to recycle after reaction by pouring into cold water and filtration. Present work will shed deep insight into the understanding of the catalytic nature of LASCs, and extend its application in important organic transformations.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (123 K)Download as PowerPoint slide