Efficient and reusable amine-functionalized polyacrylonitrile fiber catalysts for Knoevenagel condensation in water

A series of new fiber catalysts has been synthesized by aminating a commercially available polyacrylonitrile fiber with polyamines such as diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine. These fiber catalysts can efficiently catalyze the Knoevenagel condensation of benzaldehyde and ethyl cyanoacetate in water (yields: 95–98%). The triethylenetetramine aminated fiber catalyst was used to catalyze the condensations of a wide range of aromatic aldehydes and active methylene compounds and in each case, this catalyst performed well with yields higher than 93%. This fiber catalyst also exhibited excellent reusability (up to 21 times) and photostability.