Iron-Modified Mesoporous Silica as an Efficient Solid Lewis Acid Catalyst for the Mukaiyama Aldol Reaction

Fe-MCM-41 and Fe-SBA-15, two different iron-containing mesoporous silicas, were successfully synthesized by a straightforward and versatile method using iron acetylacetonate as a metal precursor. pH adjustment with ammonia during the synthesis was found to be an efficient way to improve the iron content. Physicochemical parameters of the iron-containing mesoporous silicas were obtained by nitrogen physisorption measurements, and the coordination environment of iron elements was validated by UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The surface acidity was tested by using a series of Hammett indicators. To further distinguish the Lewis acid sites on the surface, a pyridine adsorption FT-IR method was implemented. These prepared nanoporous catalysts were screened in the Mukaiyama aldol reaction as a model reaction catalyzed by a Lewis acid. The Lewis acid catalytic activity of the materials was fine-tuned, and the corresponding aldol products were obtained in good yield and selectivity. More importantly, the solid catalysts were very stable and could be reused at least nine times while maintaining the same catalytic activity.