Nanoalumina sulfonic acid catalyzed rapid N-formylation under solvent-free conditions

Abstract

A rapid and chemoselective method for the N-formylation of structurally diverse anilines with formic acid using nanoalumina sulfonic acid (NASA) at 70^oC under solvent-free condition has been developed. The catalyst was found to be compatible with different functional groups and the formylation proceeded smoothly with anilines bearing electron withdrawing as well as electron donating substituents.