(Cu/NCNTs): a new high temperature technique to prepare a recyclable nanocatalyst for four component pyridine derivative synthesis and nitroarenes reduction

Abstract

N-Doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs), which are further decorated with copper nanoparticles, have been prepared using a novel approach to the pre-existing methods. Their properties and characteristics have been studied using different techniques including UV-vis, XPS, TGA, ICP-AES, VSM, CHN, XRD, SEM-EDAX and TEM analysis. The Cu/NCNTs show nanocatalytic activity for the synthesis of four component pyridine derivatives and selective reduction of nitroarenes to their corresponding amines at ambient temperature conditions. ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR were employed to confirm the products of the synthetic transformations. We also report a new pyridine derivative, ethyl 6-(4,6-diamino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl amino)-5-cyano-2-methyl-4-phenylpyridine-3-carboxylate (5j), via the use of melamine as the nitrogen source in the pyridine synthesis.