Porous CeO2 nanorod-catalyzed synthesis of poly-substituted imino-pyrrolidine-thiones

Porous CeO2 nanorod has been used as efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of highly functionalized imino-pyrrolidine-thiones via the reaction of aromatic aldehyde (especially one bearing an electron-donating group), malononitrile, isocyanide and unactivated weakly acidic heterocyclic thiophenol. The high catalytic efficiency of porous CeO2 nanorod in this reaction was discussed preliminarily based on their morphology and structure.