D. Fildes et al., Potassium exchanged zirconium hydrogen phosphate Zr(O3POK)(2): a heterogeneous basic catalyst for Knoevenagel reaction without solvent, GREEN CHEM, 3(1), 2001, pp. 52-56
A simple work-up to prepare crystalline potassium exchanged zirconium hydro
gen phosphate Zr(O3POK)(2) is proposed. In addition the synthesis of amorph
ous potassium exchanged zirconium hydrogen phosphate Zr(O3POK)(2), obtained
from an amorphous sample of Zr(O3POH)(2).H2O is reported. All these exchan
ged materials Zr(O3POK)(2) are powerful catalysts for the Knoevenagel react
ion. Furthermore the absence of solvent increases the rate of the reaction.
Products can be separated from the catalyst by sublimation thus avoiding t
he use of solvent in the purification step. The catalyst, which is thus eas
ily recovered, shows no appreciable loss of activity when recycled three ti
mes.