Magnetic nickel ferrite nanoparticles as highly durable catalysts for catalytic transfer hydrogenation of bio-based aldehydes

Magnetic nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles were exploited as stable and easily separable heterogeneous catalysts for catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) of furfural to furfuryl alcohol with 2-propanol as both the hydrogen source and the solvent providing 94% product yield at 180 degrees C after 6 h of reaction. The magnetic properties of the catalysts provided facile recovery using an external magnet after reaction allowing it to be reused in five reaction cycles without loss of catalytic performance. Importantly, the NiFe2O4 nanoparticles were also applicable to CTH of other alkenyl/allyl/aromatic aldehydes affording over 94% selectivity towards the targeted alcohol products, thus being attractive as highly universal catalysts for CTH of aldehydes.