Synthesis of pyrazole-4-carbonitrile derivatives in aqueous media with CuO/ZrO2 as recyclable catalyst

A CuO/ZrO2 catalyzed eco-friendly strategy for the synthesis of pyrazole-4-carbonitrile derivatives in aqueous media in excellent yields (88-92%) is described. The catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and BET surface area analysis. The main benefits of one-pot three component protocol are short reaction times (<2 h), simple workup procedure, safety and recyclable catalyst. The catalyst is inexpensive, fully recyclable and reusable for over 5 runs, preserving its high activity. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.