Cooperative Activation in the Synthesis of Flavanone Antioxidants Using a Simple and Highly Efficient Magnetically Recoverable Nano-Cu-CoFe2O4 Catalyst

Abstract

ABSTRACTDouble mixed Cu0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles were found as a highly efficient and magnetically separable nanocatalyst for the synthesis of varied flavanone antioxidants. A wide range of flavanone derivatives were prepared with excellent isolated yields within the short reaction times. The catalyst could be separated using a simple magnetic extraction and reused 6 times with no remarkable loss of activity. The high activity of the prepared catalyst was attributed to the cooperative activation of the carbonyl group by both copper and cobalt via a synergistic catalytic effect that facilitates the Micheal addition of the hydroxyl group to the α,β-unsaturated ketone.