Synthesis of Jasminaldehyde (α-pentylcinnamaldehyde) using Cs-AlMCM-41 Nanoparticle as Heterogeneous Solid Base Catalyst

In this study, the ultra-small mesoporous Cs-AlMCM-41 nanoparticle materials were obtained with high specific BET surface areas in the range of 426 m2g-1 with 1.97 nm pore size. The pore volume was found to be 0.86 cm3. The material possesses a basic site due to caesium ions (Cs+) counterbalancing the negative rise by Al in the mesoporous framework. The basicity of the sample was found to be 115.48 mol g-1. The basicity was proven via the condensation reaction of heptanal and benzaldehyde using microwave irradiation with a microwave power of 800 W. The sample (Cs-MCM-41) gave a higher conversion of heptanal (73.8%) with (70.1%) selectivity to jasminaldehyde. The CsMCM-41 can be a promising base catalyst in aldol condensation reaction for the synthesis of jasminaldehyde under autogenous pressure. Hence, the solid catalyst is easily recycled up to five (5) times with minimal loss of activity due to washing.