Bio-derived ZnO nanoflower: a highly efficient catalyst for the synthesis of chalcone derivatives

Abstract

The green, eco-friendly synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using the peel of Musa balbisiana and their use as nanocatalysts in the synthesis of chalcones derivatives is reported here. Bio-derived ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, XPS, FTIR, SEM, BET and TEM techniques. The single step condensation of substituted aryl carbonyls is an attractive feature to obtain substituted chalcones in 88–98% yields in less than 2 min under microwave irradiation in solvent free conditions. A short reaction time with excellent yields of chalcones is the main advantage of our study.