Zn/Cu Layered Double Hydroxide as a Catalyst for the Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Pyrazole Derivatives

A 2D layered double hydroxides (LDHs) of Zn/Cu that belongs to a diverse category of anion-exchangeable layered structures was prepared. The synthetic inorganic LDHs material was characterized by employing various techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The prepared heterogeneous catalyst mediated the synthesis of highly functionalized pyrazole derivatives via a one-pot reaction between arylaldehyde, malononitrile, and phenylhydrazine in ethanol at room temperature with excellent yields of 76%-94%. Notably, the catalyst can be simply retrieved from the reaction mixture using filtration, and it can be reused multiple times without experiencing a substantial decrease in its activity.