Cesium Carbonate as a Heterogeneous Base Catalyst for Synthesis of 2-Aminothiophenes via Gewald Reaction

We have reported a new simple catalytic method for the synthesis of 2-aminothiophenes via Gewald reaction using Cs₂CO₃ as an efficient, reusable and green heterogeneous catalyst under heating conditions in refluxing ethanol. The catalyst could be recycled after a simple workup and reused at least three runs without appreciable reduction in its catalytic activity. Low catalyst loading, clean reaction profiles, simple experimental and workup procedures and high yields are some advantages of this protocol. The synthesis of substituted 2-aminothiophenes is attractive to chemical researchers as they are important intermediates in organic synthesis and frequently used as the scaffold motif of a variety of agrochemicals, dyes, and biologically active products. Thus, because of their wide utility, researchers have synthesized the substituted 2-aminothiophenes via efficient and convenient methods. The one-pot cyclocondensation of ketones with an activated α-hydrogen, a cyanomethylene containing an electron-withdrawing group such as cyanoacetate and elemental sulfur in the presence of organic base, for example, morpholine, diethylamine, etc, known as the Gewald reaction, has been one of the most well-studied multicomponent reactions in recent years. To extend the scope of the reaction, many alterations have been made to the original Gewald's base-catalyzed, two-component combination of α-mercapto ketones with cyanoacetate by varying the components and the conditions