Cobalt(II) schiff base functionalized mesoporous silica as an efficient and recyclable chemoselective acetalization catalyst

Cobalt(II) Schiff base functionalized mesoporous silica was synthesized from covalent attachment via the introduction of Co(OAc)₂ to salicylaldimine functionalized mesoporous silica. The catalyst proved to be chemoselective one for the acetalization of aldehydes to the corresponding acetals in alcohol. The immobilized catalyst can be easily recovered and reused for at least ten reaction cycles without significant loss of its catalytic activity.