Magnetic nanocrystallites strontium hexaferrite as an efficient catalyst in the green Betti reaction

Abstract

The sol–gel auto-combustion method was applied for preparation of SrFe₁₂O₁₉ magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Then, the prepared SrFe₁₂O₁₉ was analyzed by VSM, FT-IR, SEM, N₂ adsorption-desorption and XRD pattern. According to the hysteresis loops of SrFe₁₂O₁₉ MNPs, its magnetic saturation was about 79 emu/g and also it is a typical feature of ferromagnetic compound. SEM image showed semi-spherical particles with average size of 70 nm. The BET surface area of SrFe₁₂O₁₉ MNPs was 10.4 m²/g. Moreover, the catalytic activity of SrFe₁₂O₁₉ MNPs was tested for the first time toward the Betti reaction. The results showed that it is an efficient catalyst which can be easily separated from the reaction mixture using an external magnet and gives the pure products in high yields within short reaction time.

Keywords:

• SrFe₁₂O₁₉ nanoparticles
• Betti reaction
• α-aminobenzylphenols
• Lewis acid catalyst

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Research Council of Alzahra University and the University of Tehran.