A highly porous zeolite imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) was synthesized by a solvothermal method, and used as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the Knoevenagel reaction. The solid catalyst was characterized using a variety of different techniques, including X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic laser light scattering (DLS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), and nitrogen physisorption measurements. Quantitative conversion was achieved under mild conditions. The ZIF-8 catalyst could be facilely separated from the reaction mixture, and could be reused without significant degradation in catalytic activity. Furthermore, no contribution from homogeneous catalysis of active species leaching into reaction solution was detected.

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