Nanofibrillar Chitin Aerogels as Renewable Base Catalysts

We demonstrate the fabrication of chitin nanofibril aerogels and their successful application as base catalysts for the production of useful chemicals. Squid-pen chitin nanofibrils (ChNF) with primary C2-amine groups on their crystalline surfaces were fabricated into highly porous aerogels with high specific surface areas up to 289 m2 g–1 using freeze-drying or a supercritical drying process. The prepared ChNF aerogel was used in the aqueous Knoevenagel-condensation reaction and acted as a highly efficient base catalyst, suggesting that the combination of the nanofibrous aerogel structure and primary C2-amines exposed on the crystalline ChNF surface was effective for continuous flow catalysis. Because the ChNF aerogel can be easily prepared from abundant and renewable chitin present in nature, this strategy is a gateway to promoting and conducting green and sustainable chemistry.