Amine grafted Fe3O4 immobilized graphene oxide as a recyclable and effectual nanocomposite for the regioselective ring opening reaction.

This work describes the synthesis of magnetic graphene oxide (MGO), where iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were uniformly deposited over the sheets of the graphene oxide (GO). Further, the introduction of aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) on the surface of MGO was successfully done and results in the formation of amine-functionalized magnetic graphene oxide (MGO–NH2). The synthesized heterogeneous magnetic nanocomposite was characterized by numerous physicochemical and morphological techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, scanning electron microscopy, CHN analyzer, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The synthesized nanocomposite was proved to be an effectual catalyst in the nucleophilic ring opening reactions of styrene oxide with derivatives of amines under green solvent. The present catalyst displayed good catalytic activity, short reaction time, higher regioselectivity, excellent yields and could be reutilized up to seven catalytic rounds with no substantial loss in its activity. The excellent properties of the catalyst are due to the dual character of acidic groups (existence of carboxyl groups on the sheet edges) and basic groups (amine groups anchored on the surface of GO). On completion of the reaction, the prepared nanocomposite could be effortlessly recovered from the reaction mixture by utilizing an external magnet, owing to the ferromagnetic property of Fe3O4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]