Amide Bond Formation Catalyzed by Recyclable Copper Nanoparticles Supported on Zeolite Y under Mild Conditions

A series of catalysts based on supported copper nanoparticles have been prepared and tested in the amide bond formation from tertiary amines and acid anhydrides, in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide as an oxidant. Copper nanoparticles on zeolite Y (CuNPs/ZY) was found to be the most efficient catalyst for the synthesis of amides, working in acetonitrile as solvent, under ligand- and base-free conditions in air. The products were obtained in good to excellent yields and in short reaction times. The CuNPs/ZY system also exhibited higher catalytic activity than some commercially available copper and iron sources and it was reused in ten reaction cycles without any further pre-treatment. This methodology has been successfully scaled-up to a gram scale with no detriment to the yield.