CuO/Fe2O3 NPs: robust and magnetically recoverable nanocatalyst for decarboxylative A3 and KA2 coupling reactions under neat conditions

CuO/Fe2O3 NPs were found to be robust, green and sustainable nanocatalysts for the synthesis of trisubstituted propargylamines by the reaction of propiolic acid, secondary amines and aldehydes via decarboxylative A3 coupling reaction under solvent free conditions. Further, we explored the wide applicability of the present methodology by replacing the more reactive aldehydes with less reactive ketones to afford the tetrasubstituted propargylamines via decarboxylative KA2 reaction. The present method showed several advantages such as usage of magnetically recoverable with six times recyclability of nanocatalyst, follows green chemistry principles including low E-factor and high atom economy for the A3 and KA2 reactions as well as high turnover numbers through easy catalyst recycling.