Catalytic metallodendrimers grafted on mesoporous polymethacrylate beads for the regioselective synthesis of β-amino alcohols under solvent-free conditions

Abstract

A new series of dendritic structures was grafted on epoxy activated mesoporous polymethacrylate beads (Sepabeads EB-EP-400). Grafting with the dendritic structures was followed by loading of metal termini to the chelating groups to form metallodendrimer-grafted catalysts. The catalysts were characterized by UV, FTIR, SEM and elemental analysis. Further, a selected catalyst was used to afford β-amino alcohols in a regioselective manner through nucleophilic opening of an oxirane ring with various aromatic amines under solvent-free, mild reaction conditions. The reactions with the developed catalyst at ambient temperature afforded the corresponding β-amino alcohols in high yields (85–99.5%) with excellent regioselectivity. It was found that the developed metallodendrimer-based catalyst is efficient and recyclable without compromising on activity, selectivity and productivity (4 kg L⁻¹ h⁻¹).