Solvent-free, scalable and expeditious synthesis of benzanilides under microwave irradiation using clay doped with palladium nanoparticles as a recyclable and efficient catalyst

Benzanilide synthesis through amide bond formation was effectively carried out by palladium-doped clay catalyst using microwave irradiation under solvent-free conditions. Products were obtained with excellent yield in very short reaction time and only a small amount of the catalyst was used. The catalyst could be separated easily and recycled several times with insignificant loss in catalytic activity. No column purification was required and the products were purified by the crystallization method. The heterogeneous character of the catalyst in a ligand-free, solvent-free and base-free system supports for a practical and environmentally benign process.