Functionalizing HY zeolite with sulfonic acid, a micro-meso structure reusable catalyst for organic transformations

Abstract

A new class of sulfonic acid functionalized HY zeolite (HY-N-SA) catalyst has been prepared and characterized by some method such as XRD, FT-IR, FESEM, TEM, TGA, NH3-TPD and N2 physisorption. The result shows the micro-meso structure for catalyst without ordering in the mesophase. Then, the HY-N-SA micro-meso structure was used as an acidic catalyst to synthesize of coumarins via Pechmann reaction and facile transformation of amines to formamides under solvent-free condition. To consider the effect of acidity and kind and size of porous on the catalyst activity, this catalyst was compared with NaY-N-SA and MCM-N-SA and pure porous material (NaY and MCM-41). The significant advantages of HY-N-SA with respect to other catalysts are short reaction times, high yields, pure products, mild conditions and easy work-up. In addition, we report an original and environmentally friendly solvent-free procedure which reusability of catalyst makes this method nearly green and environmentally friendly.