Pd/CoFe2O4/chitosan: A highly effective and easily recoverable hybrid nanocatalyst for synthesis of benzonitriles and reduction of 2-nitroaniline

Abstract

In this study, a novel catalyst system with high activity and easy recoverability was successfully prepared through the deposition of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) onto designed sustainable hybrid beads containing magnetic cobalt ferrite and chitosan (Pd/CoFe2O4/chitosan). The catalytic potential of Pd/CoFe2O4/chitosan hybrid nanocatalyst was then assessed in i) preparation of benzonitriles via aryl halides cyanation and ii) reduction of 2-nitroaniline (2-NA). Various aryl iodides and bromides were successfully cyanated by Pd/CoFe2O4/chitosan hybrid nanocatalyst with excellent reaction yields within 3 h. In addition to the production of benzonitriles, the hybrid nanocatalyst showed excellent activity by reducing 2-NA in 65 s. It was proved that the Pd/CoFe2O4/chitosan hybrid nanocatalyst outperformed many catalysts used in the cyanation of aryl halides and catalytic reduction of 2-NA previously reported in the literature. Moreover, it was found that the designed Pd/CoFe2O4/chitosan hybrid nanocatalyst was easily and effectively separated from the reaction mixture using an external magnet and reused several times in catalytic reactions without considerable loss of catalytic activity.