Graphene based magnetic nanohybrids as promising catalysts for the green synthesis of β-amino alcohol derivatives

The principle of green chemistry evolves around designing products and processes with catalyst retrieval as its foremost aim. In this regard, the present report encompasses the synthesis of graphene based magnetic nanohybrids (CoFe@rGO) and their catalytic evaluation for epoxide ring opening reactions. Numerous techniques were employed for sample characterization. Powder X- Ray diffraction patterns confirm the single phase cubic structure corresponding to CoFe2O4 with Fd-3m space group. The average crystallite size was observed to be in the range of 8-12 nm for all the samples which was calculated in accordance with Debye-Scherrer equation. The FE-SEM and HR-TEM techniques were utilized to obtain detailed structural analysis of the nanohybrids displaying layered structure of GO decorated with CoFe2O4 nanoparticles. The EDX spectra confirm the elemental purity of the synthesized materials. Magnetic measurements were investigated by vibrating sample magnetometer, displaying the increase in saturation magnetization values with increase in CoFe2O4 concentration from 32.7 emu/g for CoFe@rGO (5%) to 38.6 emu/g for CoFe@rGO (20%). The catalytic presentation of the synthesized nanohybrids was evaluated for epoxide ring opening reactions under solvent free conditions displaying 100% conversion rates within 6 min of reaction time. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.