Arginine-based surface modification of nanostarch, a catalytic carbohydrates in synthesis of heteroaryl sulfides

Abstract

Novel arginine-functionalized starch-based nanoparticles (Arg-SNPs) were synthesized and characterized by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermos-gravimetric analyses (TGA) techniques. Arg-SNP was used as a highly efficient and macromolecule-supported recyclable nanocatalyst for the one-pot reaction between thiourea and iodine with various substituted methylcarbonyls to afford the corresponding diheteroaryl thioethers in high-to-quantitative yields. The nanocatalyst was recycled at least five times without significant decrease in the catalytic activity.