Magnetic nanoparticles modified by organozinc complexe as efficient and green catalyst for the synthesis of formamide derivatives

Abstract

Formamides are an important class of compounds that appear as intermediates in fungicide1 and pharmaceutical syntheses2, and isocyanate, formamidine, and nitrile formation3,4. Formamides also serve as reagents in functional group conversion, the Vilsmeier formylation reaction, and the allylation and hydrosilation of carbonyl compounds5. Due to their wide range of applications, many approaches have been developed to synthesize formamides. The method discussed in this research is include the use of magnetic nanoparticles as heterogeneous catalysts. Magnetic nanoparticles are receiving increasing interest in recent years. The magnetic nature of these particles allows for easy recovery and recycling of the catalysts by an external magnetic field, which may optimize operational cost and enhance product’s purity6. In this research, magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) were synthesized following a co-precipitation method, and subsequently coated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane through a silanization reaction. magnetite nanoparticles afforded bidentate ligands as a result of the reaction between isatoic anhydride and amino-functionalized Fe3O4. The amino-functionalized nanoparticles were treated with zink acetate, giving the immobilized zink complex. Finally, catalytic properties of the prepared nanoparticles were examined by synthesis of formamide derivatives and they showed excellent catalytic activity. Recovery of the catalyst was simply achieved by applying an external magnet. The isolated catalyst was reused for new reaction runs without significant loss of catalytic activity.