Facile N‐Formylation of Amines on Magnetic Fe3O4−CuO Nanocomposites

Abstract

AbstractA facile, eco‐friendly, efficient, and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst is synthesized by immobilizing copper impregnated on mesoporous magnetic nanoparticles. The surface chemistry analysis of Fe3O4−CuO nanocomposites (NCs) by XRD and XPS demonstrates the synergistic effect between Fe3O4 and CuO nanoparticles, providing mass‐transfer channels for the catalytic reaction. TEM images clearly indicate the impregnation of CuO onto mesoporous Fe3O4. This hydrothermally synthesized eco‐friendly and highly efficient Fe3O4−CuO NCs are applied as a magnetically retrievable heterogeneous catalyst for the N‐formylation of wide range of aliphatic, aromatic, polyaromatic and heteroaromatic amines using formic acid as a formylating agent at room temperature. The catalytic activity of the NCs for N‐formylation is attributable to the synergistic effect between Fe3O4 and CuO nanoparticles. The N‐formylated product is further employed for the synthesis of biologically active quinolone moieties.