Ni(II)-Adenine complex coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles as high reusable nanocatalyst for the synthesis of polyhydroquinoline derivatives and oxidation reactions

In the present study, Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared via simple and versatile procedure. Then, a novel and green catalyst was synthesized by the immobilization of Ni on Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with adenine. The activity of this nanostructure compound was examined for the oxidation of sulfides, oxidative coupling of thiols and synthesis of polyhydroquinolines. The prepared catalyst was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements. This organometallic catalyst was recovered by the assistance of an external magnetic field from the reaction mixture and reused for seven continuous cycles without noticeable change in its catalytic activity.