@article { ISI:000234202200037,
	title = {3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilyl functionalized Na-Al-MCM-41 solid base catalyst for selective preparation of 2-phenylpropionitrile from phenylacetonitrile},
	journal = {Applied Catalysis A-General},
	volume = {292},
	year = {2005},
	month = {SEP},
	pages = {344-353},
	publisher = {ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV},
	type = {Article},
	address = {PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS},
	abstract = {<p>Various solid base catalysts have been prepared by ion exchange of zeolites and Na-Al-MCM-41 and by organosilane grafting over mesoporous materials. Base catalysts thus synthesized were studied in the selective monomethylation of phenylacetonitrile (PAN) to 2-phenylpropionitrile (2-PPN) using dimethylcarbonate (DMC) as an alkylating agent in a Parr autoclave at a temperature ranging between 443 and 473 K and at autogenously developed pressure. NH2-Na-Al-MCM-41 (30) showed a high activity, and the optimum loading of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilyl (3-APTES) was found to be 1.35 mmol g(-1), being consistent with the structural characterization. Co-condensation of 3-APTES, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and sodiumaluminate in the presence of surfactant provides a material with uniformly distributed basic sites responsible for high activity in the selective monomethylation of phenylacetonitrile. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</p>},
	keywords = {2-phenylpropionitrile, base catalysis, dimethylcarbonate, monomethylation, NH2-Na-Al-MCM-41, phenylacetonitrile},
	issn = {0926-860X},
	doi = {10.1016/j.apcata.2005.06.013},
	author = {Venkatesan, C. and Chidambaram, M. and Singh, A. P.}
}
@article { ISI:000239869200010,
	title = {Organosilanesulfonic acid-functionalized Zr-TMS catalysts: synthesis, characterization and catalytic applications in condensation reactions},
	journal = {Applied Catalysis A-General},
	volume = {310},
	year = {2006},
	month = {AUG},
	pages = {79-90},
	publisher = {ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV},
	type = {Article},
	address = {PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS},
	abstract = {<p>Organosilanesulfonic acid (-Si-R3S-R4SO3H, OSA)-functionalized mesoporous Zr-TMS (Zr-TMS-Si-R3S-R4SO3H, Zr-TMS-OSA) was synthesized either by post-synthetic modification of Zr-TMS (zirconia-based transition metal oxide mesoporous molecular sieves) with 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (3-MPTS) and further with 1,4-butanesultone (1,4-BS) or by in situ one-pot synthesis procedure. A number of physico-chemical characterization techniques have been used to show that the organosilanesulfonic acid groups were anchored on to the walls of Zr-TMS. MCM-41-Si-R3S-R4SO3H-20 (MCM-41-OSA-20) was also prepared by post-synthesis procedure for comparison. Physico-chemical properties of in situ made A-Zr-OSA-20, Zr-TMS-SO3H-20 and MCM-41-OSA-20 were compared with Zr-TMS-OSA catalysts. The catalytic activity of the materials was tested in liquid phase condensation of aniline with p-formaldehyde to 4,4{\textquoteright}-diaminodiphenylmethane (4,4{\textquoteright}-DADPM). Results showed that Zr-TMS-OSA catalysts were more active than Zr-TMS-SO3H-20, MCM-41-OSA-20 and A-Zr-OSA-20 and more selective than Zr-TMS-SO3H-20 and A-Zr-OSA-20 catalysts. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</p>},
	keywords = {Acid catalyst, condensation of aniline, mesoporous ZrO2, organic functionalization, organosilanesulfonic acid},
	issn = {0926-860X},
	doi = {10.1016/j.apcata.2006.05.024},
	author = {Chidambaram, M. and Venkatesan, C. and Singh, A. P.}
}
