Copper-Amino Groups Complex Supported on Silica Coated Magnetite Nanoparticles: Efficient Catalyst for Oxidative Amidation of Methyl Arenes

Magnetite nanoparticles coated with mesoporous silica, Fe3O4@SiO2, were prepared. Surface functionalization of this core-shell nanocomposite with (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTMS) followed by its reaction with Cu(OAc)2 was resulted to develop a new heterogeneous copper complex (Fe3O4@SiO2-APTMS-Cu). The structure and composition of synthesized nanocatalyst were characterized by FTIR, SEM, VSM, TEM, XRD, and ICP analyses. Catalytic activity of the synthesized catalyst was probed in oxidative amidation reaction of methyl arenes with amine hydrochloride salts. Various primary, secondary, and tertiary amides were prepared by this method. Magnetic properties of this catalyst lead to easy separation as well as providing significant recyclability of it. The catalyst is reusable for 6 times without significant decrease in its catalytic activity.[1-3]