Cerium immobilized carbon nitride: A proficient and recyclable catalyst to construct carbon–carbon double bonds in water

Cerium immobilized graphitic carbon nitride (Ce‐GCN) was prepared to construct carbon–carbon double bonds from heteroaromatic/homoaromatic/aliphatic carbonyl compounds and melononitriles. The catalyst was prepared using the method of co‐precipitation and characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analysis, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Upon utilization of the catalyst thus prepared, the reaction proceeded well in water, a green solvent at ambient temperature. The catalytic efficiency revealed good performance toward reusability.