Nickel-substituted cobalt ferrite nanoparticles supported on arginine-modified graphene oxide nanosheets: Synthesis and catalytic activity

The amino acid arginine was used to modify the surface of graphene oxide nanosheets and then nickel-substituted cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were supported on those arginine-grafted graphene oxide nanosheets (Ni0.5Co0.5Fe2O4@Arg-GO). The prepared Ni0.5Co0.5Fe2O4@Arg-GO was characterized using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The application of Ni0.5Co0.5Fe2O4@Arg-GO as a catalyst was examined in a one-pot tandem oxidative cyclization of primary alcohols with o-phenylenediamine to benzimidazoles under aerobic oxidation conditions. The results showed that 2-phenylbenzimidazole derivatives were successfully achieved using Ni0.5Co0.5Fe2O4@Arg-GO nanocomposite catalyst via the one-pot tandem oxidative cyclization strategy.