H3PW12O40 Anchored on the Three-Dimensional and Networked SBA-15 as an Efficient and Recyclable Catalyst for Mannich Reaction

The three-dimensional and networked SBA-15 (3D-SBA-15) supported phosphotungstic acid (PW) was used as heterogeneous catalyst for the one-pot three-components Mannich reaction at room temperature. The H3PW12O40/3D-SBA-15 catalyst was prepared using an impregnation method and confirmed by series of characterizations such as Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 physisorption and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. 50PW/3D-SBA-15 catalyst with H3PW12O40 loading of 50 wt% showed the highest yield of 93% in 1.8 h for the Mannich reaction of benzaldehyde, aniline and acetophenone under solvent-free condition. A series of β-aminoketone derivatives were synthesized successfully in the presence of this catalyst. In addition, H3PW12O40/3D-SBA-15 catalyst can be easily recovered and reused four times without significant decrease of the activity. This work provides an improved modification of the three-component Mannich reaction in terms of mild reaction conditions, clean reaction profiles, small quantity of catalyst and a simple workup procedure.