Cu-doped CoFe2O4 nanoparticles as magnetically recoverable catalyst for C-N cross-coupling reaction

A new hybrid catalyst has been developed by immobilizing copper acetate onto surface of cobalt ferrite magnetic nanopartides bearing N-O chelating ligand. The magnetic core of the catalyst was synthesized via ultrasound assisted co-precipitation method and characterized by FT-IR, XRD, EDX, SEM, TEM, TGA and VSM analysis. The catalyst was found to be very active for C-N bond forming reaction. Coupling of amines and aryl boronic acid could be achieved in high yield in methanol in presence of triethylamine at room temperature. After completion of the reaction the catalyst could be recovered using an external magnet and reused for consecutive catalytic cycles without significant decrease in the catalytic activity.