Immobilization of copper ions onto α‐amidotriazole‐functionalized magnetic nanoparticles and their application in the synthesis of triazole derivatives in water

A new heterogeneous copper catalyst was synthesized by immobilization of copper ions onto magnetic nanoparticles with a new ligand based on triazole. The catalyst was characterized using scanning and transmission electron microscopies, atomic absorption and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies, and thermogravimetric, elemental and energy‐dispersive X‐ray analyses. The results confirmed that a good level of organic groups was immobilized on the magnetic nanoparticles. Huisgen cycloaddition reaction was chosen as a model reaction for the investigation of catalyst activity under green conditions. Phenylacetylene and benzyl bromide derivatives were used for the synthesis of triazoles. The reaction proceeded with good to excellent yields for various alkynes and alkyl halides. To investigate catalyst activity for inactive alkynes, aliphatic alkynes were used in the model reaction. The corresponding triazoles were obtained in good to excellent yields and a high regioselectivity for products was obtained. The catalyst was easily separated using an external magnetic field and subsequently reused in ten reaction cycles without any loss of catalytic activity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.