Magnetically separable MnFe2O4 nano-material: an efficient and reusable heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazoles and the extended synthesis of quinoxalines at room temperature under aerobic conditions

Abstract

A simple and efficient protocol has been developed for the synthesis of biologically relevant 2-substituted benzimidazoles and quinoxalines using magnetically separable manganese ferrite (MnFe₂O₄) nanopowder for the first time as a reusable heterogeneous catalyst at room temperature under aerobic conditions. MnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were prepared by a simple sol–gel method using starch as a bio-polymeric matrix, and characterized by XRD, TEM, EDAX and VSM analyses.