Straightforward preparation of highly loaded MWCNT-polyamine hybrids and their application in catalysis+

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were easily and efficiently functionalised with highly cross-linkedpolyamines. The radical polymerisation of two bis-vinylimidazolium salts in the presence of pristineMWCNTs and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as a radical initiator led to the formation of materials witha high functionalisation degree. The subsequent treatment with sodium borohydride gave rise to thereduction of imidazolium moieties with the concomitant formation of secondary and tertiary aminogroups. The obtained materials were characterised by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elementalanalysis, solid state 13C-NMR, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electronmicroscopy (TEM), potentiometric titration, and temperature programmed desorption of carbon dioxide(CO2-TPD). One of the prepared materials was tested as a heterogeneous base catalyst in C-C bondforming reactions such as the Knoevenagel condensation and Henry reaction. Furthermore, twoexamples concerning a sequential one-pot approach involving two consecutive reactions, namelyKnoevenagel and Michael reactions, were reported