SYNTHESIS,CHARACTERIZATION AND CATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF MODIFIED Zn- ALUMINA TOWARDS KNOEVENAGEL REACTION

Abstract

In this study, mesoporous alumina (MA) were prepared by easy and simple precipitation method using inexpensive inorganic aluminium salts with ammonium acetate (NH₄CH₃COO) as a template. A series of modified zinc-alumina was prepared by impregnation method with different %wt of Zn loading. Atomic absorption spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, as well as ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy analyses proved that zinc had been successfully deposited on the surface of the modified Zn-alumina. The pyridine adsorption proved that the Zn- modified MA exhibits Lewis acidity. The reactivity of the mesoporous and modified samples were tested in the Knoevenagel condensation reaction of cinnamaldehyde with malononitrile.