Recyclable Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Catalysts for Aza-Michael Addition of Acryl Amides by Magnetic Field

A nanostructure-based catalytic system has the advantages of both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. It is of great significance to develop the sustainable and green process of homogeneous catalytic reaction. We report a novel, efficient and recyclable magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles-catalyzed aza-Michael addition reaction of acryl amides, and the magnetic nanoparticles catalysts can be recovered by external magnetic field. Both primary amine and secondary amine can react with various acryl amides providing a good output to target products successfully at room temperature. Further experiments reveal that the magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles-based catalyst shows excellent yields, which can be recycled 10 times, and, at the same time, it maintains a high catalytically activity. In this catalytic system, the tedious separation procedures are replaced by external magnetic field, which gives us a different direction for choosing a catalyst in a nanostructure-based catalytic system.