Cu(II)-acetylacetone complex covalently anchored onto magnetic nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization and catalytic evaluation in amide bond formation via oxidative coupling of carboxylic acids with N,N-dialkylformamides

Magnetic nanoparticles coated with silica was modified with acetylacetone (acac) followed by copper chloride. After characterization using some different microscopic and spectroscopic techniques such as XRD, FT-IR, VSM, SEM-EDX, TEM, TGA, and ICP, its catalytic activity was investigated in the oxidative coupling of carboxylic acids with N,N-dialkylformamides for the preparation of amides. Different derivatives of tertiary amides were synthesized in moderate to good yields in the presence of just 0.46 mol% of this catalytic system. Magnetic properties of this nano-catalyst led to its easy separation as well as reusability. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.