Encapsulation of pentazole gold nanoparticles into modified polycyanostyrene and polynitrostyrene microspheres as efficient catalysts for cinnoline synthesis and hydration reaction

Abstract

Modified polycyanostyrene and polynitrostyrene microspheres were designed and synthesized, which proved to be an effective carrier to prepare gold nanoparticles with pentazole gold as a catalyst precursor. The developed gold nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, X-ray power diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry. In addition, it was observed that this catalytic system successfully achieved application in the synthesis of cinnoline derivatives and hydration reactions in high yields. Mechanism investigation was conducted to better understand these transformations and catalyst systems. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of utilizing pentazole gold as the catalyst precursor and achieving catalytic applications.