Sonosynthesis of furan-2(5H)-ones using nanosilica-tethered polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes

Abstract

An easy and rapid method for the synthesis of 3,4,5-substituted furan-2 (5H)-ones has been achieved through a three-component reaction of aniline, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate, and aromatic aldehydes using nanosilica-tethered polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes with eight branches of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as catalyst under ultrasonic irradiations. We reported a class of organic–inorganic hybrid material based on nanosilica-tethered polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes with eight branches of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (nanosilica @APTPOSS). The catalyst has been characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), scanning electronic microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, DLS (dynamic light scattering), and thermal gravimetric analysis. The high efficiency, short reaction times, simple workup, reusability of the catalyst up to six runs without considerable loss of activity, using the sonochemical procedure as green process, and an alternative energy source are some benefits of this method.