biostudies-literatureRumpke KDFG55https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12840762biostudies-literatureUnknown12(1)The development of sustainable catalysts is the main objective in green chemistry approaches. In this study, a catalytically active polymer based on a tertiary amine was synthesized, functionalized with a photo-crosslinker, and structured into nanofibers via electrospinning technique with polycaprolactone (PCL) as a stabilizing additive. Subsequent photo-crosslinking yielded hierarchically porous polymers with high swelling properties and increased surface areas, thereby improving the accessibility of the immobilized catalytically active sites. The nanofiber mats were incorporated into a microfluidic reactor (MFR) setup and utilized as heterogeneous catalysts for the Knoevenagel reaction of malononitrile with different aldehydes. It was observed that the system demonstrated a substantial improvement in NMR yields (40-60%) and turnover frequencies (50-80 h^-1) in comparison to catalytical systems that had been previously published. Reusability studies showed reproducibility of NMR yields over up to three cycles. The obtained results demonstrate the potential of electrospun, photo-crosslinked nanofibers as efficient heterogeneous catalysts in microfluidic synthesis, thus contributing to more sustainable production of valuable malononitrile derivatives.Gels (Basel, Switzerland)Nanofiber Mats as Amine-Functionalized Heterogeneous Catalysts in Continuous Microfluidic Reactor Systems.PMC12840762463498885Herrmann AKuckling DRumpke KKilli NDittrich BfalseNanofiber Mats as Amine-Functionalized Heterogeneous Catalysts in Continuous Microfluidic Reactor Systems.The development of sustainable catalysts is the main objective in green chemistry approaches. In this study, a catalytically active polymer based on a tertiary amine was synthesized, functionalized with a photo-crosslinker, and structured into nanofibers via electrospinning technique with polycaprolactone (PCL) as a stabilizing additive. Subsequent photo-crosslinking yielded hierarchically porous polymers with high swelling properties and increased surface areas, thereby improving the accessibility of the immobilized catalytically active sites. The nanofiber mats were incorporated into a microfluidic reactor (MFR) setup and utilized as heterogeneous catalysts for the Knoevenagel reaction of malononitrile with different aldehydes. It was observed that the system demonstrated a substantial improvement in NMR yields (40-60%) and turnover frequencies (50-80 h^-1) in comparison to catalytical systems that had been previously published. Reusability studies showed reproducibility of NMR yields over up to three cycles. The obtained results demonstrate the potential of electrospun, photo-crosslinked nanofibers as efficient heterogeneous catalysts in microfluidic synthesis, thus contributing to more sustainable production of valuable malononitrile derivatives.2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-06-09T03:17:21.294Z2026-06-09T03:11:40.083ZS-EPMC128407624159008110.3390/gels12010055