Functionalized mesoporous materials as efficient organocatalysts for the syntheses of xanthenes
摘要:
Highly efficient and recyclable heterogeneous organocatalysts containing acidic functional groups such as -CO2H and -SO3H have been synthesized by post-synthesis modification of 2D-hexagonal mesoporous silica materials SBA-15 and MCM-41, respectively. The -CO2H functionalized material is obtained via Schiff-base condensation of 3-aminopropyl grafted SBA-15 with 4-formylbenzoic acid, whereas -SO3H functionalized material is prepared via partial oxidation of 3-mercaptopropyl grafted MCM-41 with dilute aqueous H2O2. These functionalized mesoporous materials have been thoroughly characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), nitrogen adsorption/desorption studies, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Both these materials have highly ordered 2D-hexagonal mesoporous structures with high surface areas and well-defined pore sizes. These acid functionalized materials have been used as heterogeneous catalysts for the condensation of aromatic aldehydes with 2-napthol under mild conditions in the presence or absence of a solvent affording high yields of the value added xanthenes. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.