Silica‐Supported Gold Nanoparticles Catalyzed One‐Pot, Tandem Aerobic Oxidative Cyclization Reaction for Nitrogen‐Containing Polyheterocyclic Compounds

Abstract

AbstractA silica‐supported gold nanoparticle catalyst AuNPs/SiO2 (A) has been prepared by deposition of in situ synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto the surface of silica. A simple method that uses A as the catalyst and oxygen as the oxidant is effective for oxidative cyclization of anilines with aldehydes to form quinolines in a one‐pot reaction (20 examples; product yields up to 95 %). The “AuNPs/SiO2+O2” protocol is applicable to the synthesis of nitrogen‐containing polyheterocyclic compounds in good to excellent product yields by using bulky polycyclic anilines as the starting materials (10 examples; product yields up to 96 %). The A catalyst can be easily recovered by centrifugation and reused for seven consecutive runs without significant loss of catalytic activity.