Mn-grafted imine-functionalized mesoporous SBA-15 as an efficient catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation under mild conditions

Surface functionalization of SBA-15 followed by its reaction with manganese acetate has been carried out to develop a new Mn-grafted functionalized mesoporous material and it was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET nitrogen adsorption-desorption, IR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy. The XRD and TEM analyses showed that textural properties of SBA-15 were retained during the grafting procedure and after five-time recycling. The resulting material was successfully applied as a heterogeneous catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation in good to excellent yields under mild conditions.