Hydrotalcite-quinolinate composites as catalysts in a coupling reaction

Samples of layered double hydroxides were prepared by a sol–gel procedure. Quinolinate Al(C(9)H(6)NO)(3) units were added during the synthesis, leading to composite quinolinate hydrotalcite-like compounds. The amount of quinolinate was varied, showing that the number of organic building blocks determines the physicochemical properties of materials, which differ significantly from those commonly reported for hydrotalcites without any quinolinate. The order of layers, specific surface area and coordination of aluminium were the parameters most significantly influenced by the presence of the quinolinate as a part of the brucite-like layers. The composite quinolinate-hydrotalcite materials were tested to catalyse the Kabachnik–Fields reaction. [Figure: see text]