Synthesis of β-Amino Ketones using graphene oxide: a benign carbonaceous acid catalyst for Mannich reaction

Abstract

Simple and easily preparable graphene oxide (GO) is used as a straightforward carbocatalyst for the synthesis of β-amino ketones via a 3-component Mannich reaction under mild condition. The native GO is acting as a carbonaceous solid Bronsted acid catalyst without any special functionalization, yielding a spectrum of β-amino ketones under metal-free conditions. The present catalytic method offers a benign and simple procedure without any hazardous workup, and chromatographic purification resulted in an excellent yield of β-amino ketones. The catalyst has shown good sustainability up to 6 consecutive catalytic cycles without any significant loss in its activity. The stability of the recovered catalyst is proved by analytical techniques such as FT-IR, PXRD, SEM, and TEM. This mild solid-acid catalyst offers an alternative and sustainable approach to get synthetically essential β-amino ketones under greener conditions.