Cross-linked polystyrene-TiCl4 complex as a reusable Lewis acid catalyst for solvent-free Knoevenagel condensations of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with aldehydes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.catcom.2018.11.001

Cross-linked polystyrene copolymer beads with the average particle size in the range of (50–80 mesh size) were prepared by a new method, characterized and functionalized with titanium tetrachloride to afford the corresponding polystyrene?titanium tetrachloride complex in one step reaction and characterized by FT-IR, UV, TGA, DSC, XRD, SEM, BET. This polymer metal complex (PS/TiCl₄) was used as a heterogeneous, recoverable, reusable Lewis acid for solvent-free Knoevenagel condensations of 1,3-diketones with aromatic aldehydes under green and mild conditions. The rate of reactions was found to decrease with an increasing percentage of crosslinking and the mesh size of the copolymer beads. This complex showed good stability and catalytic activity in the Knoevenagel reactions.