A unique heterogeneous nucleophilic catalyst comprising methylated nitrogen-substituted porous silica provides high product selectivity for the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction

J Am Chem Soc. 2014 Jan 8;136(1):119-21. doi: 10.1021/ja410781z. Epub 2013 Dec 24.

Abstract

Methylated nitrogen-substituted microporous and mesoporous silica exhibited almost the same catalytic performance as that of a conventional homogeneous base catalyst. They also demonstrated unexpectedly high product selectivity for the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction of formaldehyde with methyl acrylate at high temperatures.

MeSH terms

  • Acrylates / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Formaldehyde / chemistry
  • Methylation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nitrogen / chemistry*
  • Porosity
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*

Substances

  • Acrylates
  • Formaldehyde
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Nitrogen
  • methyl acrylate