α‐ZrP/Uracil/Cu2+ nanoparticles as an efficient catalyst in the Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman reaction

A facile synthesis of uracil‐Cu²⁺ nanoparticles immobilized on alpha‐zirconium hydrogen phosphate (α‐ZrP), abbreviated as α‐ZrP/Uracil/Cu²⁺, was presented. This compound was synthesized by the thermal method and used as a reusable catalyst for the Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman reaction without any additives. First, (3‐ iodopropyl) trimethoxysilane as a linker is reacted with α‐ZrP support to give the α‐ZrP/IPTMOS. Addition of uracil and then the addition of copper (II) acetate to α‐ZrP/IPTMOS results in the production of selected catalyst. The Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman reaction catalyzed by α‐ZrP/Uracil/Cu^{2 +} demonstrated high product yield, short reaction time and a straightforward work‐up. The catalyst with enough outside surface was easily recovered using centrifugation and reused five times without a significant reduction in its activity.