Palladium nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide as an efficient catalyst for the reduction of benzyl alcohol compounds

Copper iodide nanoparticles supported on modified graphene-based nanocomposite catalyzed CO2 conversion into oxazolidinone derivatives

We report on the preparation of copper iodide nanoparticles (NPs) immobilized on vitamin B3-modified graphene (CuI/GO-VB) nanocomposite and its application for the synthesis of oxazolidinone compounds using a remarkable carboxylative cyclization method via the reaction of arylacetylene, aldehyde and benzylamine derivatives under an atmospheric pressure of CO2 gas. The CuI/GO-VB catalyst was prepared from graphene oxide (GO), vitamin B3 (VB) and CuI using a two-step procedure; firstly graphene-based composite (GO-VB) was synthesized by the reaction of GO and nicotinoyl chloride, followed by the immobilization of CuI NPs on GO-VB. The CuI/GO-VB nanocomposite was fully identified with X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The catalytic performance of the CuI/GO-VB heterogeneous catalyst was investigated in carboxylative cyclization for the synthesis of oxazolidinone compounds under an atmospheric pressure of CO2 gas at 100οC in solvent-, base-, and additive-free conditions; the corresponding oxazolidinone compounds were obtained in 79-94% yield. The hot filtration results indicated that CuI/GO-VB nanocomposite was a heterogeneous catalyst and showed a good reusability for 5 runs without a significant decrease in its catalytic performance.

Pd@GO catalyzed stereo- and regio-selective addition of arenes to alkynes and synthesis of coumarins via C-H functionalization

A stereo- and regio-selective addition of arenes to alkynes via C-H bond functionalization has been developed using palladium nanoparticles supported on graphite oxide (Pd@GO) as the reusable catalyst. The prepared catalyst was characterized by various spectroscopic techniques such as FT-IR, TEM, SEM, EDX, P-XRD, and XPS analysis. The thermal stability of the catalyst was established by TGA. The C-H functionalized products were obtained in good to excellent yields (69-92%) at room temperature. The methodology further extended to the synthesis of biologically and pharmaceutically important coumarin molecules from phenols and alkynes. Good to excellent yields of the coumarins (74-92%) were obtained. After the reaction, the catalyst was separated by centrifugation followed by filtration. The recovered catalyst was washed and reused up to five cycles. The advantages of this method are the simple procedure of the catalyst preparation, high catalytic efficiency, high selectivity, good functional group tolerance, low catalyst loading, and gram-scale synthesis.

Eco-Friendly and Solvent-Less Mechanochemical Synthesis of ZrO2–MnCO3/N-Doped Graphene Nanocomposites: A Highly Efficacious Catalyst for Base-Free Aerobic Oxidation of Various Types of Alcohols

In recent years, the development of green mechanochemical processes for the synthesis of new catalysts with higher catalytic efficacy and selectivity has received manifest interest. In continuation of our previous study, in which graphene oxide (GRO) and highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG) based nanocomposites were prepared and assessed, herein, we have explored a facile and solvent-less mechanochemical approach for the synthesis of N-doped graphene (NDG)/mixed metal oxide (MnCO3–ZrO2) ((X%)NDG/MnCO3–ZrO2), as the (X%)NDG/MnCO3–ZrO2 nano-composite was synthesized using physical grinding of separately synthesized NDG and pre-calcined (300 °C) MnCO3–ZrO2 via green milling method. The structures of the prepared materials were characterized in detail using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm analysis. Besides, the obtained nanocomposites were employed as heterogeneous oxidation catalyst for the alcohol oxidation using green oxidant O2 without involving any surfactants or bases. The reaction factors were systematically studied during the oxidation of benzyl alcohol (PhCH2OH) as the model reactant to benzaldehyde (PhCHO). The NDG/MnCO3–ZrO2 exhibits premium specific activity (66.7 mmol·g−1·h−1) with 100% conversion of PhCH2OH and > 99.9% selectivity to PhCHO after only 6 min. The mechanochemically prepared NDG based nanocomposite exhibited notable improvement in the catalytic efficacy as well as the surface area compared to the pristine MnCO3–ZrO2. Under the optimal circumstances, the NDG/MnCO3–ZrO2 catalyst could selectively catalyze the aerobic oxidation of a broad array of alcohols to carbonyls with full convertibility without over-oxidized side products like acids. The NDG/MnCO3–ZrO2 catalyst were efficiently reused for six subsequent recycling reactions with a marginal decline in performance and selectivity.

Three-dimensional N-doped graphene aerogel-supported Pd nanoparticles as efficient catalysts for solvent-free oxidation of benzyl alcohol

Herein, three-dimensional (3D) nitrogen-doped graphene with large surface areas and abundant porous structures was prepared by a hydrothermal synthesis method, which served as a novel support to enhance the catalytic properties of noble metal catalysts for the solvent-free selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method. The results clearly showed that the introduced N-containing group prevented the aggregation of graphene sheets and provided more structural defects to maximize the number of exposed active sites. The three-dimensional structure can provide a unique porous structure and large specific surface area. Moreover, the three-dimensional structure makes the recycling and reuse of the catalyst easier. The combination of these properties results in the reduction of the average particle size of metal palladium to 3.2 nm; this significantly increases the catalytic activity of the catalyst. The three-dimensional N-doped graphene aerogel-supported Pd nanoparticle (3D Pd/NRGO) composites exhibit excellent catalytic activity for the solvent-free selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde by molecular oxygen at 90 °C for 3 hours under atmospheric pressure, resulting in a 72.2% conversion of benzyl alcohol with 94.5% selectivity for benzaldehyde. In addition, the catalytic efficiency shows no obvious loss even after six repeated cycles. Thus, 3D Pd/NRGO can be used as an efficient, easily separable, recyclable, and stable catalyst for the solvent-free selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol under relatively mild conditions.

3D Pd/NRGO with large surface areas and abundant porous structures was prepared, which served as a novel support to enhance the catalytic properties of noble metal catalysts for the solvent-free selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol.

In Situ Synthesis of Silver Nanospheres, Nanocubes, and Nanowires over Boron-Doped Graphene Sheets for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Application and Enzyme-Free Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide

An effective in situ synthesis strategy is demonstrated for the preparation of silver nanostructures (nanospheres (NSs), nanocubes (NCs), and nanowires (NWs)) on the surface of boron-doped graphene (BG). Further, these functional nanomaterials are employed for the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and non-enzymatic electrochemical detection of H₂O₂. The results confirm the superior performance of BG-Ag nanostructures as SERS platform. Among various geometries of silver nanoparticles studied in this work, we find that the AgNCs over BG (BG-AgNC) present outstanding SERS performance for detecting 4-mercaptobenzoic acid, with a limit of detection of 1.0 × 10^-13 M. Furthermore, BG-AgNC exhibits excellent capability to detect melamine as low as 1.0 × 10^-9 M. Electrochemical results confirm that the BG-AgNW-based platform exhibits a superior biosensing performance toward H₂O₂ detection. The enhanced performance is due to the presence of graphene, which improves the conductivity and provides more active sites. The synthesis of doped graphene with metallic nanoparticles described in this work is expected to be a key strategy for the development of an efficient SERS and electrochemical sensor that offers simplicity, cost-effectiveness, long-term stability, and better reproducibility.

Synthesis of functionalized dihydro-2-oxopyrroles using graphene oxide as heterogeneous catalyst

A mild, efficient synthetic approach for the synthesis of highly functionalized dihydro-2-oxopyrroles is developed by using graphene oxide, a readily available and inexpensive material, as an eco-benign solid acid catalyst in ethanol at room temperature. The present methodology displays several advantages such as practical simplicity, high atom economy, easy workup procedure, and high yields of the products.

Sulfonated reduced graphene oxide catalyzed cyclization of hydrazides and carbon dioxide to 1,3,4-oxadiazoles under sonication

Acid catalysts facilitate many chemical reactions. Sulfonated reduced grapheneoxide (rGOPhSO₃H) has shown to be an encouraging solid acid catalyst because of its efficiency, cost-effectiveness and safety of use. In this study, we prepared the rGOPhSO₃H nano acid catalyst, with the introduction of aromatic sulfonic acid radicals onto GO by fractional removal of oxygenated functions. It was thoroughly characterized by FT-IR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and solid state ¹³C MAS NMR (SSNMR). Here we report the conversion of CO₂ (1.0 atm pressure, at = 50 °C, the source of C₁ carbon feed stock) with hydrazides and a catalytic amount rGOPhSO₃H, which through a cyclization reaction results in a new strategy for the synthesis of 5-substituted-3H-[1,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-ones (SOxdOs) under ultrasonic irradiation. Hence this concept of cyclization opens up for new insights

A highly reduced graphene oxide/ZrOx–MnCO3 or –Mn2O3 nanocomposite as an efficient catalyst for selective aerial oxidation of benzylic alcohols

ZrOx(1%)–MnCO₃/HRG(1%) based nanocomposites material as an efficient oxidation catalyst.

Sulfonated reduced graphene oxide as a highly efficient catalyst for direct amidation of carboxylic acids with amines using ultrasonic irradiation

Sulfonated reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (rGO-SO3H) were prepared by grafting sulfonic acid-containing aryl radicals onto chemically reduced graphene oxide (rGO) under sonochemical conditions. rGO-SO3H catalyst was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). rGO-SO3H catalyst was successfully applied as a reusable solid acid catalyst for the direct amidation of carboxylic acids with amines into the corresponding amides under ultrasonic irradiation. The direct sonochemical amidation of carboxylic acid takes place under mild conditions affording in good to high yields (56-95%) the corresponding amides in short reaction times.