Highly Efficient and Selective Catalytic Synthesis of Quinolines Involving Transition‐Metal‐Doped Carbon Aerogels

Abstract

AbstractCarbon aerogels doped with transition metals are found to be efficient and reusable catalysts involved in the selective synthesis of quinolines. Interestingly, we report herein the first aldol‐based reactions, particularly the Friedländer reaction, catalyzed by zero‐valent metal nanoparticles, the activity of which is mainly related with the nature of the metal. Co0‐ and Cu0‐doped aerogels resulted in the most active catalysts. Resorcinol–formaldehyde Cu‐doped and steam‐activated (RFCuS) aerogel represents an alternative nanocatalyst to the metal–organic framework CuBTC showing similar reactivity but superior thermal and chemical stability. The unusual reactivity observed could be explained by the in situ generation of the Co0–CoII catalytic system formed in the activation of ethyl acetoacetate.