Heterogeneous catalysts in the aldol condensation of heptanal with cyclopentanone

A large number of heterogeneous catalysts were tested in the aldol condensation of heptanal with cyclopentanone. There are many possible products from this aldol condensation, among which the most desired is 2-heptylidenecyclopentanone. As heterogeneous catalysts, the following were tested: caesium modified zeolites, functionalized MCM-41, and single (MgO, CaO, ZnO) and double (Mo–Si, Mg–Al, Zn–Al) metal oxides. The activity of modified zeolites and functionalized zeolites in this aldol condensation was low, whereas single and double metal oxides possessed high activity. The highest selectivity to the desired 2-heptylidenecyclopentanone (52%) was obtained using magnesium oxide as catalyst.