We
synthesized a stable and reusable Schiff base complex
of copper
immobilized on core–shell magnetic nanoparticles [Cu(II)-SB/GPTMS@SiO2@Fe3O4] with simple, efficient, and
available materials. A variety of characterization analyses including
Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
(XPS), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission
electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET),
thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating-sample
magnetometry (VSM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), and
inductively coupled plasma (ICP) confirm that our synthesized nanocatalyst
was obtained. The particle size distribution from the TEM image was
obtained in the range of 42–55 nm. The existence of cupric
species (Cu2+) in the catalyst was determined with XPS
analysis and clearly indicated two peaks at 933.7 and 953.7 eV for
Cu 2p3/2 and Cu 2p1/2, respectively. BET results
showed that our catalyst synthesized with a mesoporous structure and
with a specific area of 48.82 m2 g–1.
After detailed characterization, the resulting nanocatalyst exhibited
excellent catalytic performance for the explored catalytic reactions
in the one-pot synthesis of polyhydroquinoline derivatives by the
Hantzsch reaction of dimedone, ethyl acetoacetate, ammonium acetate,
and various aldehydes under sustainable and mild conditions. The corresponding
products 5a–l are achieved in yields
of 88–97%. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations
were carried out to investigate the electrostatic potential root (ESP),
natural bond orbital (NBO), and molecular orbitals (MOs), drawing
the reaction mechanism using the total energy of the reactant and
product and the study of structural parameters.