High surface and magnetically recoverable mPANI/pFe3O4 nanocomposites for C–S bond formation in water

Abstract

A high surface area mPANI/pFe₃O₄ nanocomposite from mesoporous polyaniline and porous magnetic Fe₃O₄ was used as a catalyst in the S-arylation of thiophenol with aryl chlorides and in the C–S bond formation between aryl iodides and thiourea in water. The mesoporosity of the polyaniline enhances the efficiency and stability of the porous magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles in both coupling reactions. The mPANI/pFe₃O₄ nanocomposite can be recovered with an external magnet and reused several times due to the superparamagnetic nature of the porous Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles.