Gel entrapped ZnO nanorods: An efficient and sustainable catalyst for the Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction in aqueous hydrotropic media

• Published in: Molecular catalysis Vol. 542; p. 113120
• Main Authors: Attar, Suraj R., Sapkal, Aboli C., Bagade, Chaitali S., Mujawar, Sarfraj H., Kamble, Santosh B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.05.2023
• Subjects: Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction; Heterogeneous catalysis; Hydrotropes; Ultrasound irradiation; ZnO nanorods; ZnO nanorods; Heterogeneous catalysis; Ultrasound irradiation; Hydrotropes; Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction
• ISSN: 2468-8231; 2468-8231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mcat.2023.113120

•Biodegradable agar gel was used as a support for ZnO nanorods fabricated by the hydrothermal method.•Gel entrapped ZnO nanorods (GE-ZnO NRs) are applied as an efficient and sustainable nanocatalyst for Claisen Schmidt condensation reaction (CSCR).•Mixtures of hydrotrope and water were used as an eco-friendly solvent in CSCR.•Ultrasound irradiations improved the yield of the product in CSCR.•Cost-effective and easy recovery of GE-ZnO NRs with good activity. A new strategy is reported for enhancing the catalytic activity of nanoparticles for the sustainable development of organic transformations. Gel entrapped zinc oxide nanorods (GE-ZnO NRs) have been prepared and analyzed by FT-IR, XRD, TG, SEM, and EDX. Catalytic activity of ZnO NRs entrapped in gel was explored through the CSC reaction of aldehydes and acetophenone at room temperature in the hydrotropic aqueous medium. The catalyst was isolated by a centrifugation-free easy filtration process and re-used more than four times without any substantial loss in its catalytic activity. Use of low-cost biodegradable natural material, centrifugation-free separation of catalyst and isolation of the product without column chromatography are the attractive points of this sustainable approach. [Display omitted]