Crosslinked chitosan nanoparticle-anchored magnetic multi-wall carbon nanotubes: a bio-nanoreactor with extremely high activity toward click-multi-component reactions

In the present study, we have designed a procedure for the synthesis of a bio-nanoreactor catalyst, crosslinked chitosan nanoparticle-anchored magnetic multi-wall carbon nanotubes ( CS NPs/MWCNT@Fe3O4), via an in situ ionotropic gelation method. The synthesized robust nanoreactor was fully characterized. Moreover, the catalytic activity was investigated towards the click-based multi-component reactions for the synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones, trisubstituted imidazoles, and 1,2,3-triazoles in a green medium. Since the nanocatalyst can be recovered by applying an external magnetic field, which results in easy separation without filtration, and recycled several times without the loss of its significant activities, it shows admirable potential in reusable catalysis.