Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Behavior of Titanium-amine Materials for Cooperative Catalysis

A stepwise, templating approach is used to isolate both Lewis acidic Ti sites and primary amines on a silica support.  The Knoevenagel condensation reaction, used as a probe of acid-base cooperativity, shows surface density dependent regions of cooperative behavior and highlights mechanistic implications of the acid site on ultimate yields.