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Imidazolium Sulfonic Acid Chloride Ionic Liquid Functionalized NiS-Graphitic Carbon Nitride as a Solid Acid–Base Bifunctional Catalyst for Knoevenagel Condensation Reactions

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Abstract

The development of rational acid–base bifunctional heterogeneous catalysts for organic transformation reactions is a challenging procedure. An imidazolium sulfonic acid chloride ionic liquid immobilized NiS doped graphitic carbon nitride (NiS-gC3N4-IL) catalyst that is very effective, non-toxic, inexpensive, and capable of both acid and base reactions has been prepared. As prepared NiS-gC3N4-IL catalyst has a high catalytic potential for the Knoevenagel condensation reaction. In addition to the basic nature of the NiS-gC3N4-IL catalyst due to the existence of N-containing moieties, the acidic nature of the catalyst is also contributed by –SO3H groups of ionic liquid. These properties make this catalyst function as both acid as well as a base catalyst. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized catalyst were thoroughly explored. The polycrystallinity of the amorphous g-C3N4 was produced as a result of the functionalization of ionic liquid. The remarkable catalytic activity of the NiS-gC3N4-IL nanosheets is demonstrated by the high yields of the products in less time and at optimal temperatures. The NiS-gC3N4-IL catalyst is highly efficient towards Knoevenagel condensation of nitrobenzaldehyde with 98% yield using ethanol as solvent. In addition, the catalyst showed exceptional recyclability and reusability. The catalyst is environmentally friendly, and the process is sustainable.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge IIT Bombay, AMRC IIT Mandi, IIT Guwahati and NIT Silchar for providing various analytical results and infrastructural facilities.

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  1. Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology, Silchar, Cachar, Silchar, Assam, 788010, India

    Debarati Chakraborty, Linkon Bharali, Juri Kalita & Siddhartha Sankar Dhar

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  1. Debarati Chakraborty
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DC—Validation, data curation, and writing. LB—investigation and visualization. JK—investigation and visualization. SSD—Visualization and Supervision.

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Correspondence to Siddhartha Sankar Dhar.

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Chakraborty, D., Bharali, L., Kalita, J. et al. Imidazolium Sulfonic Acid Chloride Ionic Liquid Functionalized NiS-Graphitic Carbon Nitride as a Solid Acid–Base Bifunctional Catalyst for Knoevenagel Condensation Reactions. Catal Lett 154, 2353–2369 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-023-04478-w

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