Surface modification of ferrite nanoparticles with dicarboxylic acids for the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural: a novel and green protocol

Surface modification of nanomaterials is one of the rapidly growing research areas. Ferrite nanoparticles (inverse spinels) with an average diameter of about 14 nm were modified with various structurally divergent dicarboxylic acids. Successful surface modification allows them to prevent the nanoparticle aggregation. The modified materials showed good catalytic activity in the dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) under solvent free conditions for the first time. 5-HMF was synthesized in high yields under heterogeneous conditions. The flexible ligand-modified ferrites showed better catalytic activity than the rigid ligand-modified ferrites.