Equisetum arvense As an abundant source of silica nanoparticles. SiO2/H3PW12O40 nanohybrid material as an efficient and environmental benign catalyst in the synthesis of 2‐amino‐4H‐chromenes under solvent‐free conditions

Abstract

Uniform SiO2 nanoparticles were successfully prepared from Equisetum arvense obtained from the north‐east of Iran. Then, surface modification of the extracted nanoparticles was performed with a methanol solution of H3PW12O40 via wet impregnation method. The prepared nanocatalyst was characterized by XRD, FESEM, ICP, UV–Vis, and FT‐IR spectroscopy. The supported heterogeneous nanocatalyst was successfully applied as a Lewis/Bronsted acid catalyst in the synthesis of a series of substituted 4H–chromenes via condensation of aromatic aldehydes, malononitrile, and 4‐hydroxycoumarin under solventless conditions with fine yields in appropriately short times.