Nanosize Co3O4 as a novel, robust, efficient and recyclable catalyst for A3-coupling reaction of propargylamines

Nanosize Co3O4 was prepared via hydrothermal synthesis and characterized using TEM, XRD, EDAX, XPS and BET surface area analysis. Prepared nanosize Co3O4 was found to be highly efficient catalyst for the synthesis of propargylamines via A(3)-coupling reaction. The catalyst was recycled up to ten consecutive cycles without any loss in its activity. The developed protocol offers efficient synthesis of diverse propargylamines eliminating the use of co-catalyst and activator as reported in earlier literature. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.