Chinta Venkat Reddy

The first example of Michael addition catalysed by modified Mg–Al hydrotalcite

Selective 1,4-additions (Michael reactions) on methyl vinyl ketone, methyl acrylate, simple and substituted chalcones by donors such as nitroalkane, malononitrile, diethylmalonate, cyanoacetamide and thiols were catalysed by solid base, modified Mg-Al hydrotalcite as catalyst in quantitative yields in liquid phase under mild reaction conditions. Products of undesirable side reactions resulting from 1,2-addition, polymerisation and bis-addition are not observed. The work-up procedure is simplified by simple filtration with the use of solid bases.

The first example of direct oxidation of sulfides to sulfones by an osmate molecular oxygen systemElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: experimental details; TGA–DTA–MS thermogram of LDH-OsO4® with thioanisole. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b2/b212749k/

Osmate-exchanged Mg-Al layered double hydroxides catalysed the delivery of two oxygen atoms simultaneously via a 3 + 1 cycloaddition to sulfide to form sulfone directly for the first time, reminiscent of 3 + 2 cycloaddition in asymmetric dihydroxylation reactions.

Selective reduction of aldehydes to alcohols by calcined Ni-Al hydrotalcite

Several aromatic and heterocyclic aldehydes are reduced at atmospheric pressure by calcined Ni-Al hydrotalcite and the catalyst is reused for several cycles with consistent activity and selectivity.