Synthesis of new enaminone derivatives and studying the one-pot three-component reaction of anilines, triethyl orthoformate, and active methylene compounds using CeO2 nanoparticles as a catalyzing

Abstract

In this study, the synthesis of new enaminone derivatives via a three-component reaction of active methylene compounds, triethyl orthoformate, and aniline derivatives, in the presence of cerium oxide nanoparticles as an active catalyst, under solvent-free conditions has been developed. Cerium oxide nanoparticles were prepared using the aqueous extract of Salvadora persica as a green and environmentally friendly method. The effect of different parameters including solvent, reaction temperature, catalyst type, and catalyst amount was studied to achieve optimized reaction conditions. Cerium oxide nanoparticles have shown a higher yield than other catalysts such as Fe₂O₃, lactic acid, NaOAc, ZnCl₂, nano-MgO, and nano-ZnO. The enaminone derivatives were synthesized in high to excellent yields with this protocol.