ZnAl2O4@ZnO an effective, heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of β-enaminones and β-enaminoesters

Using ZnAl2O4@ZnO as a catalyst, an environmentally friendly and very effective method has been developed to selectively add a ring to 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and aromatic, aliphatic primary amines. A wide variety of bis(β-enaminones) and bis(β-enaminoesters) can be synthesized using this highly versatile method, which provides good yields. This procedure can be carried out at room temperature, which is environmentally advantageous as it utilizes ZnAl2O4@ZnO as a heterogeneous, recyclable and stable catalyst under free solvent conditions. A co-precipitation reaction at constant pH was used to prepare this catalyst, and spectral analysis (X-ray diffraction, FTIR) and morphological characterization techniques (SEM, EDX) confirmed its morphological structure.