Combustion-derived CuO nanoparticles: An effective and environmentally benign catalyst in the synthesis of aromatic nitriles from aromatic aldehydes

CuO nanoparticles were synthesized using an energy-efficient and rapid solution combustion technique with malic acid employed as a fuel. The combustion-derived CuO nanoparticles were used as catalysts in a one-pot synthesis of aromatic nitriles from aromatic aldehydes and hydroxylamine hydrochloride. The catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis. The catalytic activity of the CuO nanoparticles in the synthesis of aromatic nitriles from aromatic aldehydes was evaluated. The present protocol offers the advantages of a clean reaction, simple methodology, short reaction duration (1-2 min), and high yield (85-98). The catalytic activity of the CuO nanoparticles was found to be higher than that of bulk CuO powder under the same conditions. The catalyst can also be recovered and reused up to four times with no significant loss of catalytic activity. The present approach is inexpensive and is a convenient technique suitable for industrial production of CuO nanoparticles and nitriles. © 2013, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved