Synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity study of MnCoFe2O4@Scurose-CuS as a novel bio-based nanocatalyst for preparation of biscoumarins

MnCoFe2O4@Sucrose-CuS magnetic nanoparticles, containing sucrose as a cheap and available cover group with especial structure, were prepared by a simple and green method. The structure of these nanoparticles was identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The obtained results from the FE-SEM images show a spherical structure with an average size of NPs of about 28.47 nm, which is in agreement with the XRD pattern. These novel bio-based magnetic nanoparticles were used as a green and inexpensive nanocatalyst for the synthesis of biscoumarin derivatives via two components reaction 4-hydroxycumarin and aryl aldehydes under reflux conditions and using ethanol as a solvent. The structure of prepared biscoumarin derivatives was identified by FT-IR, 1H- and 13C NMR spectroscopy as well as microanalysis data. The green and accessible synthesis of biscoumarin derivatives, easy workup, short reaction time and high efficiency of the catalyst are some highlights of this clean procedure. The amount of copper on MnCoFe2O4@Scurose-CuS nanoparticles was estimated to be about 2.62 mmol/g by ICP-OES analysis, which shows a slight decrease of about 4.19% after 5 times of use as a catalyst.