Choline chloride and urea based eutectic solvents: Effective catalytic systems for the Knoevenagel condensation reactions of substituted acetonitriles

Article abstract of DOI:10.3184/174751914X13926483381319

The Knoevenagel condensation of aromatic aldehydes with active methylene compounds such as malononitrile, ethyl cyanoacetate, benzimidazole-2- acetonitrile and benzothiazole-2-acetonitrile proceeded very smoothly, in a reusable and cheap choline chloride and urea based deep eutectic solvents. Both reaction time and yield are satisfactory. The advantages of this catalyst are that it is readily available, biodegradable, non-toxic, low cost and is recyclable.