Copper–cobalt synergy in Cu1−xCoxFe2O4 spinel ferrite as a highly efficient and regioselective nanocatalyst for the synthesis of 2,4-dinitrotoluene

Abstract

Highly regioselective dinitration of toluene with nitric acid as nitrating agent in the presence of Cu_1−xCo_xFe₂O₄ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) as nanocatalysts is described. The results of this protocol show that this nitration system can significantly improve the selectivity and the yield of 2,4-dinitrotoluene. The prepared spinel ferrites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Copper and cobalt synergy (50% : 50%) in spinel ferrite also shows the best catalytic activity in the selectivity of dinitrotoluene under solvent-free conditions.