CuFe2O4 magnetic heterogeneous nanocatalyst: Low power sonochemical-coprecipitation preparation and applications in synthesis of 4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile scaffolds

Abstract

The paper presents the synthesis and catalytic activity of CuFe2O4 nanoparticles. The CuFe2O4 nanoparticles have been prepared by sonochemical route under low power ultrasonic irradiation (UI) and using silent stirring at room temperature only (ST) along with co-precipitation method, without using any additive/capping agent. The synthesized magnetic nanoparticles were successfully used and compared for the synthesis of 4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile derivatives. The CuFe2O4 nanoparticles obtained by sonochemical route exhibit higher catalytic activity because of small size (0.5-5 nm), high surface area (214.55 m(2)/g), high thermal stability up to 700°C, recyclability and reusability due to its magnetic characteristics than CuFe2O4 nanoparticles obtained by room temperature silent stirring. The synthesized CuFe2O4 nanoparticles were characterized by FT-IR, SEM-EDX, HR-TEM, XRD, TGA/DTA/DTG, BET, VSM techniques. The present method is of great interest due to its salient features such as environmentally compatible, efficient, short reaction time, chemoselectivity, high yield, cheap, moisture insensitive, green and recyclable catalyst which make it sustainable protocol.

Keywords: 4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile scaffolds; CuFe(2)O(4); Magnetically retrievable catalyst; Sonochemical synthesis.