Reusable photoresponsive Ag/AgCl nanocube-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of seleno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives

Abstract

In this study, a facile and rapid method was developed to synthesize intensely organoselenium compounds, namely ethylseleno[2,3-b]pyridine carboxylate, seleno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carbonitrile and 2-benzoylseleno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives from starting compound, 2-chloro-3-cyano-4,6-dimethylpyridine, in one-pot synthesis using Ag/AgCl nanoparticles (NPs) under visible light irradiation. Three different shapes of Ag/AgCl nanoparticles (nanospheres (NS), nanocubes (NC) and nanowires (NW)) were synthesized by controlling the concentration ratio between silver nitrate (AgNO3) and hydrochloric acid. The Ag/AgCl NPs were characterized using different tools such as scanning electron microscopy, UV–Vis spectrophotometry and X-ray diffraction. The catalytic activity of the photoresponsive Ag/AgCl nanoparticles with different morphology was evaluated towards organoselenium compounds production. The following rate order of seleno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives production and organic dye degradation under visible light irradiation was Ag/AgCl-NC > Ag/AgCl-NW > Ag/AgCl-NS. The mechanism of the production of seleno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives has been proposed. It is clearly shown from the results that high yield of selective organoselenium compounds (> 90%) was obtained under mild conditions with short reaction time and the photocatalytic activity of the prepared Ag/AgCl nanoparticles depends on their morphology.