Green synthetic methodology: an evaluative study for impact of surface basicity of MnO₂ doped MgO nanocomposites in Wittig reaction

For synthesis of flavoring agent E-ethyl cinnamate in an economic way using Wittig reaction, MnO₂ doped MgO nanocomposites were prepared by alkali leached hydrothermal method. The resultant nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, UV-DRS, FT-IR, FESEM, EDAX, XPS and Hammett indicator method. This surface modified MnO₂ doped MgO can be used as green solid base for Wittig reaction between benzaldehyde and phosponium salt for synthesis of E-ethyl cinnamate under solvent free approach. Nanocomposite of MgO with MnO₂ in combination with green mechanochemical approach seems to be more economic in comparison to pure nanosized MgO under conventional solvent stirring. Both efforts are complementary for promoting surface basic activity of MgO for high-yield synthesis of E-ethyl cinnamate using Wittig reaction. The product ethyl cinnamate has been characterized by HR-MS, IR, ¹H NMR.