Polymer coated magnetically separable organocatalyst for C-N bond formation via aza-Michael addition

A polyacrylamide coated magnetite (PAM@MNP) catalyst was synthesized by following a two step approach involving the reaction of magnetite (Fe3O4) particles with coupling agent 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate followed by grafting of acrylamide and subsequent polymerization via surface initiated radical polymerization technique. The synthesized organocatalyst was used for a one-pot aza-Michael addition reaction of amines with electron deficient alkenes to give beta-amino carbonyls. The magnetic properties of the synthesized organocatalyst provide it a facile recovery by external magnet which eliminates the problems arising during catalyst separation by conventional filtration. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.