Modified fluorapatite as highly efficient catalyst for the synthesis of chalcones via Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction

In the present study, we investigated the synthesis of fluorapatite using a pseudo sol-gel process and the chemical modification of this new catalyst support via impregnation of sodium nitrate followed by calcination at 550 degrees C in order to enhance its catalytic performance. This approach was used to obtain a bi-functional catalyst for Claisen-Schmidt condensation. Indeed, this heterogeneous catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity and high selectivity for the synthesis of chalcones from direct aromatic aldehydes with substituted ketones at room temperature. The operational simplicity, excellent yields of the products and the recyclability of the catalyst are the main advantages of this method. (C) 2016 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.