Ligand-free copper-catalyzed O-arylation of aryl halides using impregnated copper ferrite on mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride as a robust and Cheek magnetic heterogeneous catalyst

In this study, a magnetic and heterogeneous nanocatalyst based on in situ synthesis of CuFe2O4 supported on mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (mpg-C3N4) was developed. This mesoporous nanocomposite was well characterized via standard analysis methods. This catalyst was applied under simple and ligand-free condition in Ullmann-type arylation reaction to afford a vast variety of target o-arylated products in satisfactory yields. It should be noted that working under an inert atmosphere was not required for this coupling reaction. The control experiment showed that mpg-C3N4 was a key factor to proceed the reaction and the XPS analysis confirmed this role. Moreover, owing to stability and magnetically separatability of CuFe2O4/g-C3N4, this nanocomposite could be easily separated by an external magnet and reused for five cycles without loss of its high activities during cycles.