Calixarene-proline functionalized iron oxide magnetite nanoparticles (Calix-Pro-MN): An efficient recyclable organocatalyst for asymmetric aldol reaction in water

Calix[4]arene-based chiral organocatalyst derived from L-proline supported onto well-defined (15 +/- 3 nm) magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles was used as a highly active, recoverable, and reusable catalyst for the asymmetric aldol reaction in water without need for organic solvents. The chiral organocatalyst showed high catalytic activity (up to 94%), enantioselectivity (up to 93%) and diastereoselectivity (up to 97:3) for the reaction between cyclohexanone and aromatic aldehydes. The catalyst could easily separated using an external magnetic field and reused for several times without any significant loss of activity. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.