Pyridine immobilised on magnetic silica as an efficient solid base catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation of furfural with acetyl acetone

Abstract

Novel heterogeneous pyridine immobilised magnetic silica (Fe3O4@SiO2-Py) was found to be an efficient, greener and heterogeneous solid base catalyst for the Knoevenagel condensation of furfural with acetylacetone under optimized reaction conditions. The Knoevenagel condensation product 3-(2-furylmethylene)-2,4-pentanedione (FMP), a jet fuel precursor, was produced in high yield of 85% with 94% conversion of furfural at 100 °C within a period of 4 h. Fe3O4@SiO2-Py catalyst showed excellent stability and recyclability without losing its initial activity.