Cross Aldolization Between Benzaldehyde and n-Heptaldehyde to α-Pentylcinnamaldehyde Overcalcined mg-al Hydrotalcites

Calcined Mg-Al hydrotalcites (CHT) with various Mg/Al atomic ratios were prepared and characterized by XRD, BET and TPD of carbon dioxide. The CHT catalysts were utilized for the synthesis of α-pentylcinnamaldehyde (α-Pc) from benzaldehyde and n-heptaldehyde in a stirred batch autoclave reactor. An increase of Mg/Al atomic ratio of CHT samples results in the apparent enhancement of catalyst basicity with concomitant decrease of surface areas. Both the catalytic activity and the α-Pc selectivity increase with the catalyst basicity and the reaction temperature.