The role of water in the reusability of aminated silica catalysts for aldol reactions

The reusability of methylaminopropyl active sites grafted on mesoporous amorphous silica, either with cooperative silanol groups or trimethylsilated, was assessed in the aldol reaction of acetone with 4-nitrobenzaldehyde. Raman, 13C NMR, and UV–Vis spectroscopy demonstrated the presence of stable enamines on the spent catalysts. These enamines are produced as a side product from iminium intermediates in the catalytic cycle. Water co-feeding enhances the desorption of the iminium intermediates and, hence, suppresses the formation of these stable enamine species. The reusability of the cooperative catalyst increased to 70% with co-feeding 0.69 wt% water, while an almost complete reusability was achieved for the trimethylsilated catalyst. Continuous-flow experimentation showed that the cooperative effect of the silanol groups was lost during the first 7 h on-stream, yet activity losses continued, most likely due to silica hydrolysis. Activity losses persisted on the more hydrophobic trimethylsilated catalyst, but were significantly less pronounced.