Polyaniline-encapsulating CuFe2O4/Cu2O composite: a simple, effective and reusable heterogeneous catalyst for ligand-free N-arylation of amines and nitrogen heterocycles

Abstract

Cu2O supported on polyaniline (PANI) encapsulating CuFe2O4 was found to be highly efficient, magnetically separable and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the C-N cross-coupling reaction of arylhalides with amines. It was successfully synthesized and characterized using FT-IR, VSM, TGA, TEM, SEM, EDX, and XRD. The applicability of PANI/nano-CuFe2O4/Cu2O catalyst was considered in the C-N cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides with alkyl and aryl amines in good yields without using external ligands or additives as promoters. Notably, the PANI/nano-CuFe2O4/Cu2O catalyst was separated from the reaction by using an external magnet and recycled for seven runs without significant loss of catalytic activity.