N-Arylation of indole and aniline by a green synthesized CuO nanoparticles mediated by Thymbra spicata leaves extract as a recyclable and heterogeneous nanocatalyst

• Published in: Tetrahedron letters 2017-08, Vol.58 (32), p.3155-3159
• Main Authors: Veisi, Hojat, Hemmati, Saba, Javaheri, Hadis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Copper oxide; Green Chemistry; Heterogeneous nanocatalyst; Thymbra spicata; Ullmann
• ISSN: 0040-4039; 1873-3581
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2017.06.086

[Display omitted] •Green synthesis of CuO NPs using Thymbra spicata leaves extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent.•Elimination of toxic ligands and homogeneous catalysts.•High yield of the products.•No surfactant, capping agent, and/or template were used in the procedure.•The CuO NPs can be easily recovered and reused. In a biological procedure where the aqueous leaves extract of Thymbra spicata was utilized as a reducing and capping agent, copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized. These CuO NPs were characterized via Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDX), and UV–visible spectroscopy. The as prepared nanoparticles have been employed as an appropriate nanocatalyst for ligand-free N-arylation of indole and aniline via Ullmann-type CN coupling reactions. Adequate to outstanding quantities of the N-arylated products were synthesized and the nanocatalyst was retrievable and reusable seven times without noticeable decrease in catalytic performance.