Lanthanum immobilized on chitosan: a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for facile synthesis of novel (α,β-unsaturated) β-aminoketones

A new heterogeneous catalyst, lanthanum immobilized on chitosan, was synthesized and used for the aza-Michael reaction of β-enaminone under microwave irradiation. The characteristic structural features of the catalyst were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopies and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The stability of the catalyst was evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis. The use of recyclable catalyst and glycerol as solvent makes this procedure environmentally benign and economically viable. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.