Synthesis of curcumin catalyzed by KF/Al₂O₃

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study reported in this paper is to synthesis curcumin, which was reported to possess broad pharmacological effects and excellent dyeing properties, via Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction catalysed by an efficient and green solid base catalyst, KF/Al₂O₃.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of catalysts with different KF loadings and varying calcination temperatures had been prepared, characterised by Brunauer–Emmett–Taller surface area, temperature-programmed desorption with CO₂ using infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and tested in the Claisen–Schmidt condensation reaction. The effects of different reaction parameters such as temperature, the amount of catalyst, reactant ratio and time on the synthesis of curcumin were examined. The possibility of recycling the catalyst was also investigated in detail. Moreover, the reaction mechanism and the role of KF/Al₂O₃ in the synthetic process were discussed.

Findings

The study provides an efficient and green solid base catalyst, KF/Al₂O₃, and 64.3 per cent yield of curcumin was obtained under the optimum reaction conditions. Experimental results indicate that the third reused catalyst could retain part of the catalytic activity, and the regenerated one could be reused with reasonable catalytic activity. Besides, K₃AlF₆ was proposed as the active site of the catalyst for the reaction by the analysis of the characterization results of KF/Al₂O₃.

Originality/value

KF/Al₂O₃ was found to be an efficient catalyst for catalytic synthesis of curcumin and could be easily recycled several times. This information may be useful for further research and practical applications of curcumin.

Citation

Gao, L., Chen, J., Zheng, J. and Zhang, H. (2016), "Synthesis of curcumin catalyzed by KF/Al₂O₃", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 45 No. 4, pp. 225-233. https://doi.org/10.1108/PRT-01-2015-0002