Organocatalyzed Mannich reaction: Electrochemically synthesized prolinated carbon dots vs. prolinated graphene oxide

• Published in: Synthetic communications Vol. 53; no. 19; pp. 1647 - 1663
• Main Authors: Bortolami, Martina, Rocco, Daniele, Simonis, Beatrice, Feroci, Marta, Vetica, Fabrizio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 02-10-2023; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Carbon dots; Catalysts; Chemical synthesis; Graphene; graphene oxide supported L-proline; Ketones; L-proline; Mannich reaction; organocatalysis
• ISSN: 0039-7911; 1532-2432
• DOI: 10.1080/00397911.2023.2241092

L-Pro was previously used as an organocatalyst in the Mannich reaction under homogeneous conditions; a recoverable catalyst could be useful; this is the first report on the application of prolinated carbon dots to the Mannich reaction.
Prolinated carbon dots were synthesized electrochemically using a bottom-up approach; they were characterized and used in the Mannich reaction in water using only a slight excess of ketone; for a useful comparison, L-proline decorated graphene oxide was synthesized.
The characterization of carbon dots and functionalized graphene oxide confirmed the presence of L-Pro on their surface; their use in the Mannich reaction gave good yields when carrying out the reaction in water; a possible recycle of the catalyst was demonstrated.
Both electrochemically synthesized prolinated carbon dots and prolinated graphene oxide acted as organocatalysts in the Mannich reaction. Higher yields were obtained using L-Pro-CDs obtained under galvanostatic conditions.