Microwave-assisted tandem allylation-isomerization reaction catalyzed by a mesostructured bifunctional catalyst in aqueous media

A mesoporous silica-supported bifunctional Ti-Ru-SBA-15 catalyst with an ordered two-dimensional hexagonal mesostructure was prepared by postmodifying organometallic complexes RuCl(2)(PPh(3))(3) and Ti(O(i)Pr)(4) onto PPh(2)-SBA-15. During the tandem addition-isomerization reaction of benzaldehyde under microwave irradiation in aqueous media, the mesoporous silica-supported Ti-Ru-SBA-15 catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity (more than 97%) and selectivity (up to 96%). Such a catalyst could be recovered easily and used repetitively five times without significantly affecting its catalytic activity and selectivity.