Facile N-Formylation of Amines on Magnetic Fe3O4-CuO Nanocomposites

A facile, eco-friendly, efficient, and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst is synthesized by immobilizing copper impregnated on mesoporous magnetic nanoparticles. The surface chemistry analysis of Fe3O4-CuO nanocomposites (NCs) by XRD and XPS demonstrates the synergistic effect between Fe3O4 and CuO nanoparticles, providing mass-transfer channels for the catalytic reaction. TEM images clearly indicate the impregnation of CuO onto mesoporous Fe3O4. This hydrothermally synthesized eco-friendly and highly efficient Fe3O4-CuO NCs are applied as a magnetically retrievable heterogeneous catalyst for the N-formylation of wide range of aliphatic, aromatic, polyaromatic and heteroaromatic amines using formic acid as a formylating agent at room temperature. The catalytic activity of the NCs for N-formylation is attributable to the synergistic effect between Fe3O4 and CuO nanoparticles. The N-formylated product is further employed for the synthesis of biologically active quinolone moieties.

Automated summary

A facile, eco-friendly, efficient, and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst was synthesized by immobilizing copper impregnated on mesoporous magnetic nanoparticles. The Fe3O4-CuO nanocomposites show synergistic effect between Fe3O4 and CuO nanoparticles, providing mass-transfer channels for the catalytic reaction. The catalytic activity for N-formylation of a wide range of amines is attributable to the synergistic effect between Fe3O4 and CuO nanoparticles, demonstrating its potential for the synthesis of biologically active quinolone moieties.