A bifunctional zeolitic porous liquid with incompatible Lewis pairs for antagonistic cascade catalysis

•Synthesize type III porous liquids via assembly of zeolite and ionic liquids •Achieve high zeolite content, stable dispersion, and abundant cavity distribution •Involvement of separated antagonistic groups via steric hindrance regulation •Exhibiting superior catalytic performance in cascade reaction in one pot The emergence of porous liquids (PLs) opened opportunities to form unique antagonistic systems capable of fulfilling cascade reactions promoted by incompatible active sites in one pot, which is a long-term challenging subject in catalysis. Herein, unique bifunctional type III PL-based systems were facilely fabricated via assembly of zeolite nanosheets with ionic liquids. Rational structural design afforded PLs that feature high zeolite concentration, stable dispersion after 2 years, abundant cavity distribution, and involvement of antagonistic groups (acid and base sites) in separated and active form via steric hindrance control and electronic repulsion regulation. These unique properties worked cooperatively to fulfill the cascade deacetalization-Knoevenagel/Aldol condensation in one pot with superior catalytic efficiency outperforming the traditional systems. The key to success lies in the formation of bifunctional composites, transformation of zeolite from heterogeneous to homogeneous via surface modification, and rapid mass transfer ensured by the rigid porous architecture. The emergence of porous liquids (PLs) opened opportunities to form unique antagonistic systems capable of fulfilling cascade reactions promoted by incompatible active sites in one pot, which is a long-term challenging subject in catalysis. Herein, unique bifunctional type III PL-based systems were facilely fabricated via assembly of zeolite nanosheets with ionic liquids. Rational structural design afforded PLs that feature high zeolite concentration, stable dispersion after 2 years, abundant cavity distribution, and involvement of antagonistic groups (acid and base sites) in separated and active form via steric hindrance control and electronic repulsion regulation. These unique properties worked cooperatively to fulfill the cascade deacetalization-Knoevenagel/Aldol condensation in one pot with superior catalytic efficiency outperforming the traditional systems. The key to success lies in the formation of bifunctional composites, transformation of zeolite from heterogeneous to homogeneous via surface modification, and rapid mass transfer ensured by the rigid porous architecture.