Magnetic ethyl-based organosilica supported Schiff-base/indium: A very efficient and highly durable nanocatalyst

In the present study a novel core-shell structured magnetic bifunctional organosilica was prepared through modification of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with a mixture of bis(triethoxysilyl) ethane (BTEE) and 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTES) followed by treatment with 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde. This nano-material was applied as efficient support for immobilization of indium chloride. The prepared nano-material was denoted as Fe3O4@BOS@SB/In and characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). The Fe3O4@BOS@SB/In was successfully applied as a powerful catalyst for green reduction of nitrobenzenes in water at room temperature. This catalyst was recovered and reused several times without significant decrease in efficiency and stability. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.