Microwave‐assisted synthesis of 1,4‐disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazole derivatives utilizing NiO/Cu2O nano‐photocatalyst

Abstract

BACKGROUNDThe main characteristic features of nickel–copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne click (Ni‐CuAAC) reactions for production of 1,2,3‐triazoles are regioselectivity and the reaction proceeding under mild conditions. The use of copper salts as catalysts often leads to challenges like contamination of the prepared triazoles. NiO/Cu2O nanocomposites (NCs) were utilized in Ni‐CuAAC reactions as heterogeneous nanocatalysts to achieve the production of some 1,4‐disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazoles in high chemical yields under microwave irradiation.RESULTSThe preparation of NiO/Cu2O NCs was performed through the coprecipitation of NiO nanoparticles on Cu2O surface. The prepared catalyst was used for catalyzing a reaction between benzoyl azides and phenylacetylene under optimized reaction conditions. The NiO/Cu2O NCs exhibited high catalytic activity compared to Cu2O nanoparticles. In addition, by utilizing ethanol–water as the solvent system under microwave irradiation, higher yields and efficient product separation were observed.CONCLUSIONThis study investigated the proficiency of NiO/Cu2O NCs as effective nanocatalysts for the selective synthesis of some 1,4‐disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazole derivatives. Employing heterogeneous nanoparticle catalysts, such as Cu2O and NiO/Cu2O, offers several advantages over homogeneous catalytic systems. These include easier catalyst separation and recovery, potential for catalyst reuse and the ability to fine‐tune the catalytic properties by modulating the nanoparticle composition and structure. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).