CoFe2O4@SiO2@Co(III) Salen Complex: A Magnetically Recyclable Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Synthesis of Quinoline Derivatives in Water

Abstract

In this study, a description is made upon the preparation, characterization and catalytic application of CoFe2O4@SiO2@Co(III) salen complex, i. e., Co(III) salen complex loaded on cobalt ferrite‐silica nanoparticle. TEM, SEM‐EDX, VSM, FT‐IR analyses were used to characterize the complex. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was also used to determine the thermal stability of the material. Using Scherrer's approximation, an average crystallite size is determined from the full width at half maximum of strongest reflection by powder X‐ray diffractometry (XRD). The efficiency is studied for CoFe2O4@SiO2@Co(III) salen complex in quinolines of various 1,3‐dicarbonyls synthesizing with 2‐aminobenzophenone. Good to excellent yields (85–96%) are given to corresponding products by excellent catalytic activity that is demonstrated by the nanocatalyst. Moreover, the investigation of CoFe2O4@SiO2@Co(III) salen complex revealed that nanocatalyst could be recovered and reused at least five times without any appreciable decrease in activity and selectivity. This confirms its high efficiency and high stability under the reaction conditions and during recycling stages.