Key factor affecting the basicity of mesoporous silicas MCM-41: effect of surfactant extraction time and Si/Al ratio

Mesoporous silica Si-MCM-41 was prepared by hydrothermal method using TEOS and CTAB as the source of silica and structuring agent, respectively. The surface of the as-synthesized material was treated using HCl/ETOH solvent to remove the CTA surfactant instead of using the calcination. Characterization of the catalysts was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nitrogen sorption at 77 K, scanning and transmission electronic microscopy (SEM, TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis TGA. The catalytic properties of the prepared materials in the condensation of acetophenone with ethyl cyanoacetate were studied. The effects of the catalyst type, Si/Al ratio, reaction kinetics, and reaction temperature were also investigated to find an optimal parameter. The results show that an interesting yield was obtained (about 96%) in a short reaction time; it is found that the yields of products depend not only on the amount of surfactant inside the mesopores but also on the Si/Al ratio. The catalyst reuse shows that this catalyst can be used up to five cycles, and at temperatures higher than 50 °C, the yield of products decreases due to the slight destruction of the catalyst as confirmed by the XRD analysis. Based on the results obtained, a possible mechanism of the condensation reaction of acetophenone was proposed.