Preparation of Fe3O4@C-dots as a recyclable magnetic nanocatalyst using Elaeagnus angustifolia and its application for the green synthesis of formamidines

This work describes a novel and simple procedure for successfully synthesizing formamidines by using Fe3O4@C-dots in the role of an effective and reusable catalyst throughout a solvent-free set-up. The formamidine derivatives were easily prepared through aromatic amines with triethyl orthoformate in the company of Fe3O4@C-dots. According to the experimental outcomes, the obtained formamidines in the presence of Fe3O4@C-dots exhibited good to high yield values. In the following, we distinguished the prepared catalyst by applying field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) techniques. Furthermore, the evaluation of catalytic activity was done in the course of synthesizing formamidine derivatives. Among the advantages of this method, one can highlight the facts of solvent-free conditions, the simplicity of operation, high yields, nonacidic catalyst, and the reusability of nanocatalyst for at least five cycles.