Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2012, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (4): 666-669.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(11)60364-1

• Research papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

2-Pyrrolidinecarboxylic Acid Ionic Liquid Catalyzed Knoevenagel Condensation

SONG Hongbing, YU Yinghao, CHEN Xuewei, LI Xuehui*, XI Hongxia   

  1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Pulp and Paper Engineering State Key Laboratory of China, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, Guangdong, China
  • Received:2011-10-29 Revised:2011-12-20 Online:2012-04-13 Published:2015-09-09

Abstract: The pyrrolidinecarboxylic functionalized ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-(S)-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid salt ([bmim][Pro]), was prepared using an improved procedure. α,β-Unsaturated carbonyl compounds were selectively synthesized and high yields (88%–97%) were obtained at room temperature in aqueous media when [bmim][Pro] was used as the catalyst for the Knoevenagel reaction between a methylene compound and an aldehyde or ketone. [bmim][Pro] was reused six times without loss of catalytic activity. The catalytic mechanism is briefly discussed.

Key words: proline, ionic liquid, catalysis, Knoevenagel condensation