Application of catalysts in the synthesis of 4-(4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene)-3-methylisoxazol-5(4H)-one: experimental and theoretical studies

The aim of this work is to evaluate the catalytic activity of catalysts based on silver nanoparticles in the synthesis of isoxazolone-type heterocycles. The catalysts used in this study were prepared by the impregnation of 2 wt% Ag on commercial support oxides which are: Al₂O₃, CeO₂ and MgO. The characteristics of these materials are obtained using the following methods: inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, adsorption–desorption of N₂and Diffuse reflectance UV–visible (RD/UV–Vis). The results of the application of the catalysts Ag–Al₂O₃, Ag–MgO and Ag–CeO₂ in the synthesis of the 4-(4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene)-3-methylisoxazol-5(4H)-one using an aldehyde as the starting molecule, were revealed that all the catalysts had interested yields up to 60%. However, the Ag–CeO₂ catalyst showed a yield that goes to 94% respecting the rules of green chemistry. On the other hand, it turned out that the reaction does not work using a ketone as the starting molecule whatever the reaction conditions. Finally, the study was closed by a theoretical study of the properties of the molecule obtained.