CuMoO4: a heterogeneous bimetallic nanocatalyst for the C–H activation of alkenes with iodoarenes

Abstract

In this work, we report an oxo-bridged CuMoO₄ bimetallic nanocatalyst for the C–H activation of alkenes with iodoarenes in the Heck reaction. The heterogeneous catalyst is easily synthesized via a simple precipitation and features an oxo-bridge between the copper and molybdate centers. This bimetallic approach enables ligand-free Heck reactions yielding trans-selective products with broad functional group tolerance. Notably, this oxo-bridged catalyst exhibits excellent recyclability by retaining high catalytic activity for up to four cycles in DMSO solvent without significant metal leaching. Furthermore, this protocol successfully synthesized several biologically active molecules with anti-cancer, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties.