John Mondal

Fe3O4@mesoporous SBA-15: a robust and magnetically recoverable catalyst for one-pot synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones via the Biginelli reaction

A magnetic nanoparticle conjugated mesoporous nanocatalyst (Fe(3)O(4)@mesoporous SBA-15) with a high surface area has been synthesized by chemical conjugation of magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) nanoparticles with functionalized mesoporous SBA-15. Functionalized mesoporous SBA-15 containing surface carboxyl and amino groups was synthesized via the thiol-ene click reaction of cysteine hydrochloride and vinyl functionalized SBA-15. The catalytic activity of the robust, safe and magnetically recoverable Fe(3)O(4)@mesoporous SBA-15 nanocatalyst was evaluated in the Biginelli reaction under mild conditions for the synthesis of a diverse range of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones. The separation and reuse of the Fe(3)O(4)@mesoporous SBA-15 nanocatalyst were simple, effective and economical.

Triazine functionalized ordered mesoporous polymer: a novel solid support for Pd-mediated C–C cross-coupling reactions in water

A new functionalized mesoporous polymer (MPTAT-1) has been synthesized via organic–organic radical polymerization of 2,4,6-triallyloxy-1,3,5-triazine (TAT) in aqueous medium in the presence of an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) as template. Powder XRD and TEM image analysis suggests the presence of ordered 2D-hexagonal arrangement of pores in the material. N2 sorption analysis reveals a moderately good surface area 135 m2 g−1 for this mesoporous polymer. The template free MPTAT-1 acts as an excellent support for immobilizing Pd(II) at its surface and the resulting material showed very good catalytic activity in several C–C cross-coupling reactions like Mizoroki–Heck, Sonogashira and Suzuki–Miyaura in an environmentally benign reaction medium, water. The catalyst exhibits very high catalytic activity for the coupling of various aryl halides including aryl chlorides with alkenes or alkynes and the sodium salt of (trihydroxy)phenylborate. Due to strong binding with the functional groups of the polymer, the anchored Pd(II) could not leach out from the surface of the mesoporous catalyst during the reaction and it has been reused several times without appreciable loss in catalytic activity.

Pd-grafted periodic mesoporous organosilica: an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for Hiyama and Sonogashira couplings, and cyanation reactions

The high surface area of 2D-hexagonal periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) containing a phloroglucinol-diimine moiety inside the pore wall has been utilized for grafting Pd(II) at the surface of the mesopores. This Pd-containing PMO material (Pd-LHMS-3) shows excellent catalytic activity in fluoride-free Hiyama cross-coupling reactions in water at alkaline pH conditions. Sonogashira cross-couplings between terminal alkynes and aryl halides take place in the presence of water and hexamine as base in the absence of any Cu co-catalyst. Cyanation of aryl halides is equally promoted with K4[Fe(CN)6] as the cyanide source (in the absence of poisonous KCN, NaCN or Zn(CN)2) over Pd-LHMS-3. Excellent yield of the products, reusability and the facile work-up could make this Pd-grafted PMO material a unique catalyst for the synthesis of substituted benzonitriles, unsymmetrical biphenyls and di-substituted alkynes under environmentally benign reaction conditions. Further good yield of products and no evidence of leached Pd from the catalyst surface during the reaction and its smooth recovery confirm the true heterogeneity in these catalytic reactions.

One-pot thioetherification of aryl halides with thiourea and benzyl bromide in water catalyzed by Cu-grafted furfural imine-functionalized mesoporous SBA-15

Surface functionalization of SBA-15 followed by its reaction with Cu(OAc)(2) has been carried out to develop a new Cu-grafted functionalized mesoporous material, which catalyzes one-pot three component coupling of different aryl halides with thiourea and benzyl bromide in aqueous medium to produce aryl thioethers in very good yields (80-88%).

Highly ordered acid functionalized SBA-15: a novel organocatalyst for the preparation of xanthenes.

Post-synthesis modification of SBA-15 has been carried out to design highly ordered acid functionalized hybrid mesoporous organosilica, AFS-1. This material has been used as an efficient heterogeneous organocatalyst for the syntheses of xanthenes under mild conditions in the absence of any other metal co-catalyst.

A new periodic mesoporous organosilica containing diimine-phloroglucinol, Pd(II)-grafting and its excellent catalytic activity and trans-selectivity in C–C coupling reactions

A new organosilane precursor has been designed via Vilsmeier–Haack formylation of phloroglucinol followed by its Schiff base condensation with 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTES). A novel organic–inorganic hybrid periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) LHMS-3 containing the highly coordinating bis(propyliminomethyl)-phloroglucinol moiety inside the pore wall has been synthesized by using this precursor organosilane molecule. Phenolic-OH and imine-N donor sites present in this PMO material have been utilized to anchor Pd(II) species at the surface of the mesopores. Small angle neutron scattering, XRD, HR TEM, SEM, 13C and 29Si solid state MAS NMR, UV-vis and FT IR spectroscopic tools are utilized to characterize the 2D-hexagonal mesophase and the presence of the bis(propyliminomethyl)-phloroglucinol moiety inside the pore wall. This Pd-anchored material Pd-LHMS-3 showed excellent catalytic activity and trans-selectivity in Heck C–C bond formation reactions for the synthesis of a series of value-added aromatic and aliphatic olefins.

Sulfonated Porous Polymeric Nanofibers as an Efficient Solid Acid Catalyst for the Production of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural from Biomass

Sustainable supply of energy is one of the biggest challenges today. The conversion of energy from any abundant and renewable resources would be an ideal solution for this ever increasing demand of sustainable energy. Biomass provides a potential energy alternative through the platform chemical 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which is considered as a sustainable source for liquid fuels and commodity chemicals. Herein, we report the synthesis of a nanoporous polytriphenylamine (PPTPA‐1) having high surface area (1437 m2 g−1) by a simple one‐step oxidative polymerization pathway. Upon sulfonation of PPTPA‐1, the sulfonated polymer SPPTPA‐1 showed very high surface acidity and it has been successfully employed as a solid acid catalyst for direct conversion of sugar to HMF. Both PPTPA‐1 and SPPTPA‐1 materials have distinct nanofiber morphologies and they are characterized thoroughly by using powder XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, 13C solid state magic‐angle‐spinning NMR spectrometry, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, and N2 sorption techniques. We have optimized the HMF yields by using different carbohydrate sources and estimated the recycling efficiency of the catalyst.

Triazine functionalized ordered mesoporous organosilica as a novel organocatalyst for the facile one-pot synthesis of 2-amino-4H-chromenes under solvent-free conditions

A highly ordered 2D-hexagonal mesoporous material functionalized with a triazine moiety has been synthesized via post-synthetic modification of mesoporous SBA-15 with thiols followed by a thiol–ene click reaction using 2,4,6-triallyloxy-1,3,5-triazine. A facile one-pot three-component condensation reaction of aromatic aldehyde, malononitrile and activated phenols for the synthesis of a diverse range of 2-amino-4H-chromenes has been efficiently catalyzed over this novel mesoporous metal-free heterogeneous organocatalyst under solvent-free reaction conditions. Further, this organocatalytic reaction is waste-free, easy to work-up and efficiently reused. The organic products have been isolated from the reaction mixture by using easily disposable solvents and can be easily purified by re-crystallization.

Size-Dependent Catalytic Activity of Palladium Nanoparticles Fabricated in Porous Organic Polymers for Alkene Hydrogenation at Room Temperature

Ultrafine palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) with 8 and 3 nm sizes were effectively fabricated in triazine functionalized porous organic polymer (POP) TRIA that was developed by nonaqueous polymerization of 2,4,6-triallyoxy-1,3,5-triazine. The Pd NPs encapsulated POP (Pd-POP) was fully characterized using several techniques. Further studies revealed an excellent capability of Pd-POP for catalytic transfer hydrogenation of alkenes at room temperature with superior catalytic performance and high selectivity of desired products. Highly flammable H2 gas balloon at high pressure and temperature used in conventional hydrogenation reactions was not needed in the present synthetic system. Catalytic activity is strongly dependent on the size of encapsulated Pd NPs in the POP. The Pd-POP catalyst with Pd NPs of 8 nm in diameter exhibited higher catalytic activity for alkene hydrogenation as compared with the Pd-POP catalyst encapsulating 3 nm Pd NPs. Computational studies were undertaken to gain insights into different catalytic activities of these two Pd-POP catalysts. High reusability and stability as well as no Pd leaching of these Pd-POP catalysts make them highly applicable for hydrogenation reactions at room temperature.

Direct amide bond formation from carboxylic acids and amines using activated alumina balls as a new, convenient, clean, reusable and low cost heterogeneous catalyst

For the first time, we have used activated alumina balls (3–5 mm diameter) for amide synthesis from carboxylic acids (unactivated) and amines (unactivated) under neat reaction conditions that produce no toxic by-products and has the advantages of being low-cost, easily available, heterogeneous, reusable and environmentally benign with no troublesome/hazardous disposal of the catalyst.