Iranian Journal of Catalysis
Volume:2 Issue: 1, Winter 2012

For the first time B-podands have been studied as an efficient and powerful catalysts in the ring opening of epoxides with azide anion in water. The reaction afforded the corresponding 1,2-azidoalcohols with high regioselectivity under mild reaction conditions and in a highly atom economic fashion.

A convenient, efficient and practical procedure for the synthesis of 1-amidoalkyl 2-naphthols is described by condensation of aromatic aldehydes with amides and 2-naphthol in the presence of P2O5/SiO2 as an efficient catalyst. Moreover, in the present of this catalyst, the synthesis of 14-aryl or alkyl-14H-dibenzo[a,j]xanthenes is studied by condensation of aldehydes with 2-naphthol. Using solvent-free conditions, non-toxic and inexpensive materials, simple and clean work-up, short reaction times and high yields of the products are the advantages of this method. 1-

Two simple protocols for the synthesis of three-component condensation reaction of an aldehyde, β-ketoester and urea or thiourea to obtain the 3, 4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones (thiones) using nano silica phosphoric acid are reported. Short reaction times, high yields, reusability of catalyst and easy workup are some advantages of these protocols.

A simple and mild method for tetrahydro pyranylation of alcohols is reported at room temperature using a catalytic amount of 3-methylimidazolinium hydrogensulfate ([Hmim]HSO4) as a green, efficient and reusable catalyst. Using solvent-free conditions, non-toxic and inexpensive materials, modest and clean work-up, short reaction times and high yields of the products are the advantages of this method.

An efficient green route for the preparation of naphthoxazinones, applying a three-component one-pot condensation reaction of 2-naphthol, aromatic aldehyde and urea in the presence of nano silica supported ferric chloride under solvent-free conditions has been developed. The present procedure offers several advantages such as short reaction time, simple workup, recovery and reusability of the catalyst.

P2O5-SiO2 (30% w/w) was found to be a useful catalyst for the synthesis of various 2-substituted aryl benzimidazoles under solvent-less and in solvent conditions from o-phenylenediamine and aldehydes. The products were directly recrystallized from methanol.

In our current study, supercritical water impregnation (SCWI) was introduced as a unique catalyst preparation method by employing the high diffusivity property of supercritical water. The method allows nano-particles to place on support surfaces in extremely dispersed conditions. The silica-based nanocatalyst granules for this purpose were prepared by initial impregnation of highly porous silica (500 m2/g) in aqueous nitrate solutions, followed by hydrothermal decomposition of the nitrates to oxides at supercritical condition. The prepared sample prior to undergoing characterized by X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption analysis (BET). Although the catalytic properties of the CuO in silica supports were not evaluated, the procedure of employing supercritical water in comparison to other routes to deposit metal oxide particles on hydrophobic surfaces inside support structures offers promise for catalyst preparation without the use of toxic or noxious solvents.

Sulfonated polystyrene/montmorillonite nanocomposite (OMMT/PS-SO3H) was prepared and used as a novel, efficient and inexpensive heterogeneous acid catalyst in the one-pot reaction three-component Mannich reaction of ketones, aromatic aldehydes and amines under solvent-free conditions. The catalyst was characterized by XRD, SEM, TG, BET and FT-IR techniques. This method has advantages of high yield, moderate to excellent diasteroselectivity, mild condition, catalyst recyclability, and simple work-up procedure.