Facile synthesis of hybrid Cu2O/Pd–Fe3O4 nanocatalysts for C–H arylation of 4-nitroimidazoles

Abstract

A facile synthetic strategy for a hybrid Cu₂O/Pd–Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite via controlled thermal decomposition of Fe(CO)₅ and reduction of Pd(OAc)₂ and Cu(acac)₂ was developed. The Pd precursor and amount of reducing agent used during the synthetic process controlled the morphology of the Cu₂O/Pd–Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites. The prepared Cu₂O/Pd–Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites showed excellent catalytic performance for C–H arylation, which can be attributed to the synergetic catalytic system formed from the catalytically effective Pd and Cu₂O. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, the C–H arylation of 4-nitroimidazoles with aryl iodides catalyzed by heterogeneous nanocatalysts has not been reported in the literature.