Amine-containing carbon catalysts were synthesized to study the production of alpha,beta-unsaturated esters by Knoevenagel condensation of buthyraidehyde and ethyl cyanoacetate. The solids were characterized by XRD, XPS, FTIR, elemental analyses, CO2 adsorption measurements and N-2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. Monoethanolamine-functionalization on the carbon led to structural changes while keeping relatively high surface areas. Although a great number of basic sites provided a good performance in the reaction, leaching of these sites at elevated temperatures accounted for deactivation of the catalyst. The best performance towards ethyl 2-cyano-3-propylacrylate ester was obtained for ACN10 (conversion = 10.7%; selectivity = 100%) at 348 K, being reused for five times. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.