Amberlyst-15 catalysed microwave assisted cross-aldol condensation between ketones and aldehydes under solvent free condition

Department of Chemistry, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700 032, India
E-mail : mallikak52@yahoo.co.in
Manuscript received 10 June 2010, revised 31 August 2010, accepted 15 September 2010

Amberlyst-15 has been applied as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the first time for rapid synthesis of α,α´-bls(arylmethylene)cycloalkanones, α,α´-bis(rinnamylidene)cycloalkanones, α-cinnamylideneacetophenones and chalcones in very good yield by the reaction between various aldehydes and ketones under microwave irradiation. The new process for the cross-aldol condensation reaction works well in absence of any solvent. The yields are high and the process Is environmentally benign.