Multi-walled carbon nanotube supported Fe3O4NPs: an efficient and reusable catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of 4H-pyran derivatives

Multi-walled carbon nanotube supported Fe3O4 nanoparticles have been prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM). This superparamagnetic nanocomposite, which could be conveniently separated by using an external magnet, can be used as an efficient catalyst for the promotion of the synthesis of 4H-pyran derivatives via a one-pot multicomponent reaction of an aldehyde, malononitrile and beta-diketones. Some of the advantages of this work are that it is environmentally benign, has an easy work-up procedure, saves energy and uses mild reaction conditions.