Layered double hydroxide fluoride: a novel solid base catalyst for C-C bond formation

LDH-F hydrotalcite catalysts are found to be an efficient, environmentally attractive and selective solid base catalysts for 1,4-Michael addition and also for simple synthesis of alpha,beta -unsaturated esters and nitriles by Knoevenagel condensation. The catalyst displayed unprecedented catalytic a ctivity both in Knoevenagel and Michael reactions under mild liquid phase c onditions at a greater rate compared with known solid bases and fluoride ca talysts. The present ecofriendly catalyst is a potential alternative to sol uble bases.