Heterogeneous catalyst SiO₂-LaCl₃·7H₂O: characterization and microwave-assisted green synthesis of...

Silica-supported lanthanum (III) chloride (SiO₂-LaCl₃·7H₂O) was prepared and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis techniques. The catalytic activity of this silica-supported lanthanum (III) chloride was investigated in a one-pot three-component Kabachnik-Fields reaction. A library of new α-aminophosphonates was prepared employing various benzothiazole and thiadiazole amines, different substituted aldehydes and diethylphosphite under solvent-free conditions using conventional/microwave methods with good to excellent yields (85-97%). The advantages of this catalyst are that it is environmentally benign, economically inexpensive, and easy to prepare, gives high yields and high purity is less time-consuming, offers easy purification is reusable and enables products to be obtained by simple recrystallization without column chromatography.