Cooperative Activation in the Synthesis of Flavanone Antioxidants Using a Simple and Highly Efficient Magnetically Recoverable Nano-Cu-CoFe₂O₄ Catalyst

ABSTRACT

Double mixed Cu_0.5Co_0.5Fe₂O₄ ferrite nanoparticles were found as a highly efficient and magnetically separable nanocatalyst for the synthesis of varied flavanone antioxidants. A wide range of flavanone derivatives were prepared with excellent isolated yields within the short reaction times. The catalyst could be separated using a simple magnetic extraction and reused 6 times with no remarkable loss of activity. The high activity of the prepared catalyst was attributed to the cooperative activation of the carbonyl group by both copper and cobalt via a synergistic catalytic effect that facilitates the Micheal addition of the hydroxyl group to the α,β-unsaturated ketone.

KEYWORDS:

• Cu_0.5Co_0.5Fe₂O₄
• flavanone antioxidants
• magnetically recoverable nano-ferrite catalyst
• polycyclic