Nanocomposites with different metals as magnetically separable nanocatalysts for oxidation of aldehydes

In this study, two metals were chosen for composing two different nanocatalysts. Zinc acetate and nickel chloride were used to prepare two nanocatalysts from acetanilide anchored to functionalized silica-coated Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles. They were identified using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. These nanocatalysts were used for the oxidation of the following aldehydes: 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, and 3-nitrobenzaldehyde. High efficiency, stability, recoverability, recyclability, and selectivity were achieved using these nanocatalysts.