Hydrothermal preparation and characterization of ZnFe₂O₄ magnetic nanoparticles as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of multi‐substituted imidazoles and study of their anti‐inflammatory activity

Abstract

Nanoparticles are key focus of research for a wide range of novel applications. As such, ZnFe 2 O 4 magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized hydrothermally and characterized via scanning and transmission electron microscopies, powder X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray and infrared spectroscopies, thermogravimetric analysis and magnetic measurements. They were used as a robust catalyst for the synthesis of a series of biologically active multi-substituted imidazoles using a multicomponent reaction by the reaction of benzil with various aromatic aldehydes, ammonium acetate and aliphatic amines (N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine and 1-amino-2-propanol) under solvent-free conditions. The key advantages of this method are shorter reaction times, very high yield and ease of operation. The thermally and chemically stable, benign and economical catalyst was easily recovered using an external magnet and reused in at least five successive runs without an appreciable loss of activity. All of these novel synthesized compounds were characterized from spectral data and their purities were checked using thin-layer chromatography, giving one spot. Furthermore, the prepared compounds were tested for their anti-inflammatory activity.

Sonochemical synthesis, structural inspection and semiconductor behavior of three new nano sized Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) chelates based on tri‐dentate NOO imine ligand as precursors for metal oxides

“…The data also affirm that the synthesized materials are CuO, Co 3 O 4 and NiO, that all the diffraction peaks agreed with the reported standard data; no characteristic peaks were manifested other than metal oxides. The mean granule size (D) of the particles was predestined from the XRD line broadening measurement plying the Scherrer Equation : where λ is the wavelength (1.5406 Å), β is the full breadth at the half‐ maximum of the CuO, Co 3 O 4 and NiO line and θ is the diffraction angle. Average crystallite size in the domain of 16‐46 nm were predestined for the CuO, Co 3 O 4 and NiO nanoparticles.…”

“…The data also affirm that the synthesized materials are CuO, Co 3 O 4 and NiO, that all the diffraction peaks agreed with the reported standard data; no characteristic peaks were manifested other than metal oxides. The mean granule size (D) of the particles was predestined from the XRD line broadening measurement plying the Scherrer Equation [43][44][45][46][47][48]:…”

Magnetically Separable Transition Metal Ferrites: Versatile Heterogeneous Nano‐Catalysts for the Synthesis of Diverse Bioactive Heterocycles

“…Nano‐zinc ferrite (ZnFe 2 O 4 ) was be synthesized by mixing the stoichiometric solutions of iron(III) nitrate (Fe(NO 3 ) 3 ⋅9H 2 O) and zinc nitrate (Zn(NO 3 ) 2 ⋅6H 2 O) using PEG‐400 as surfactant to prevent aggregation and agglomeration of the nanoparticles in basic medium (pH∼ 12) …”

Characterization of bis‐Schiff bases synthesized using ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles as catalyst, and examination of their antibacterial and in vitro cytotoxic properties

“…On the other hand, other studies have indicated that bulk ZnFe 2 O 4 possesses a normal spinel structure composing of Zn 2+ ions with no magnetic moment in the tetrahedral site to lead to anti‐ferromagnetic behaviors. Nevertheless, the researchers mentioned the possible effect of the crystallite size and synthesis method on the nano‐crystalline zinc ferrite features …”