Au anchored to (α-Fe2O3)-MCM-41-HS as a novel magnetic nanocatalyst for water-medium and solvent-free alkyne hydration

A novel catalytic system based on Au nanoparticle functionalized magnetic mesoporous silica was prepared as (alpha-Fe2O3)-MCM-41-HS-Au. This material was obtained through the reaction of ordered mesoporous silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles (alpha-Fe2O3)-MCM-41, (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) and HAuCl4. This catalyst was extensively characterized by various techniques such as SEM, TEM, XRD, EDX, IR and N-2-sorption isotherm. Very uniform dispersion and ordered mesopores of (alpha-Fe2O3)-MCM-41-SH (about 2-3 nm) causes Au nanoparticles to be distributed very finely on the pore surfaces, resulting in a very useful and robust magnetically recyclable catalyst for water-medium and solvent-free alkyne hydration. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.