Indium modified mesoporous zeolite AlMCM-41 as a heterogeneous catalyst for the Knoevenagel condensation reaction

Abstract

The Indium modified mesoporous zeolite AlMCM-41 were synthesized by hydrothermal method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) techniques. The Knoevenagel condensation of aldehyde with malononitrile or ethyl cyanoacetate was carried out at reflux condition in ethanol by using heterogeneous In/AlMCM-41 catalyst. This method is fast, efficient, easy work-up and eco-friendly to afford the corresponding Knoevenagel adducts. The catalyst was recovered and reused for several cycles with consistent activity.