Copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized via thermal decomposition method and applied as a reusable and green catalyst in the synthesis of functionalized 4H-pyran derivatives using malononitrile, an aromatic aldehyde and a β-ketoester in ethanol at room temperature. Then it was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, thermo gravimetric and differential thermo gravimetric (TGA/DTG) analysis. The catalyst was recovered from the reaction mixture by applying an external magnet and decanting the mixture. Recycled catalyst was reused for several times without significant loss in its activity. Running the one-pot three-component reaction at room temperature, no use of eternal energy source and using a green solvent provide benign, mild, and environmentally friendly reaction conditions; as well, ease of catalyst recovering, catalyst recyclability, no use of column chromatography and good to excellent yields are extra advantages of this work.
Clean one-pot multicomponent synthesis of pyrans using a green and magnetically recyclable heterogeneous nanocatalyst