Magnetic Nanoparticles Supported Copper Nanocomposite: A Highly Active Nanocatalyst for Synthesis of Benzothiazoles and Polyhydroquinolines

A novel magnetically recoverable copper nanocatalyst was fabricated via the immobilization of a copper complex on the surface of silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles modified with a novel Schiff base ligand [Fe3O4@SiO2-bis(aminopyridine)-Cu]. FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, EDX, VSM, XRD, XPS, TGA and AAS, ICP-OES techniques were applied to characterize the structure of the as-fabricated [Fe3O4@SiO2-bis(aminopyridine)-Cu(II)] nanocomposite. TEM and SEM analysis confirmed that the typical silica shell thickness was assessed to be around 20 nm. Catalytic studies revealed that the Fe3O4@SiO2-bis(aminopyridine)-Cu(II) nanocomposite is a highly efficient and green nanocatalyst for the synthesis of benzothiazoles and polyhydroquinolines. The [Fe3O4@SiO2-bis(aminopyridine)-Cu(II)] nanocatalyst could be easily recovered by a simple magnetic separation and recycled at least 6 times without deterioration in catalytic activity.

Automated summary

A novel magnetically recoverable copper nanocatalyst was synthesized by immobilizing a copper complex on the surface of silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles modified with a novel Schiff base ligand [Fe3O4@SiO2-bis(aminopyridine)-Cu]. Various characterization techniques were used to analyze the structure of the synthesized [Fe3O4@SiO2-bis(aminopyridine)-Cu(II)] nanocomposite. Catalytic studies demonstrated that the Fe3O4@SiO2-bis(aminopyridine)-Cu(II) nanocomposite exhibited excellent efficiency and green catalytic activity for the synthesis of benzothiazoles and polyhydroquinolines. The nanocatalyst could be easily recovered through magnetic separation and maintained its catalytic activity for at least 6 cycles.