The cellulose aluminum oxide composite-supported imidazolium chloroaluminate ionic liquid as a novel and stable heterogeneous catalyst

ABSTRACT

1-Methyl-3-(triethoxysilylpropyl)imidazolium chloroaluminate ionic liquid anchored on a composite of cellulose and aluminum oxide was easily synthesized and tested for its catalytic activity in one-pot Knoevenagel condensation, Michael addition, and cyclodehydration of 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cycloheanedione (dimedone) with aromatic aldehydes. The catalyst was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and atomic absorption technique. It is a non-hygroscopic (as a bench top catalyst), reusable, and environmentally compatible heterogeneous catalyst.

KEYWORDS:

• Cellulose-coated aluminum oxide
• chloroaluminate ionic liquid
• heterogeneous catalysis
• 1,8-dioxo-octahydroxanthene
• aldehyde

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Research Council of Shahrekord University for partial support of this work.