Synthesis of nanoporous aluminosilicate materials and their application as highly selective heterogeneous catalysts for the synthesis of β-amino alcohols

The ability of nanoporous aluminosilicate materials, synthesized using an evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) approach, to function as catalysts for the formation of ß-amino alcohols from aromatic amines and epoxides was assessed. Materials containing high aluminium loadings displayed catalytic activity, giving the desired ß-amino alcohols in high yield and with high selectivity for the Markovnikov addition product. These materials exhibited nanoporous pores, typically 1.34–1.49 nm, with a narrow pore size distribution and the expected large surface areas.