Abstract Polydopamine (PDA)-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@PDA) were synthesized through a simple and green procedure. In this study, for the first time, successful immobilization of oxo-vanadium (V=O) on surface of Fe3O4@PDA as a magnetic adsorbent and stabilizing agent. The structure, morphology and physicochemical properties of the synthesized nanocatalyst [VO(PDA)@Fe3O4] were characterized by different analytical techniques such as high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and FT–IR spectroscopy. VO(PDA)@Fe3O4 nanoparticles illustrated high catalytic activity as a recyclable nanocatalyst in the chemoselective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and benzylic alcohols to aldehydes using green oxidant of hydrogen peroxide in high-yield. The synthesized catalyst can be used several times with no considerable leaching and change in its activity. Both improvement of catalytic performance and easy separation for the reaction procedure were obtained because of the presence of oxo-vanadium and the magnetic core.
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