Iron Nanoparticles Supported on Graphene Oxide: A Robust, Magnetically Separable Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Oxidative Cyanation of Tertiary Amines.

Abstract

Well-dispersed iron nanoparticles supported on chemically derived graphene oxide containing uniform distribution of iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) throughout the surface was synthesized and was used as a heterogeneous catalyst for oxidative cyanation of tertiary amines to the corresponding α-aminonitriles in high to excellent yields using hydrogen peroxide with sodium cyanide in acetic acid. After the reaction the catalyst could easily be separated by the influence of an external magnet and reused for several runs without any significant change in the catalytic activity and without leaching of the metal during the reaction.