Synthesis and Characterization of Silica-Polymer Nanocomposites Functionalized with Piperazine for the Synthesis of β-Nitro Alcohols

In order to compare the activity and selectivity for the synthesis of beta-nitro alcohols, piperazine was functionalized directly and after surface modification into the ordered mesoporous SBA-15 framework. The materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, N-2-adsorption-desorption isotherm, FT-IR, SS-NMR and scanning electron microscopy. The catalyst synthesized via surface modification under solvent free conditions showed very high activity and selectivity of beta-nitro alcohols compared to the one synthesized by direct functionalization of SBA-15. Finally the possible reaction pathways were explained mechanistically.