Fabrication of the Fe3O4/Cu-BTC Metal–Organic Framework Composite: A Magnetically Retrievable Efficient Catalytic Material for Hydration of Nitriles to Amides in Water

Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have become a rising star in the field of materials chemistry and engineering owing to their fascinating physico-chemical properties. The amalgamation of magnetic nanostructures with MOFs allows researchers to design promising hybrid materials with enhanced catalytic activity for desired organic transformations compared to their individual counterparts, facile separability, and reusability. In this contribution, the present work successfully reports the fabrication of a hybrid magnetic metal–organic framework (MMOF) material named Fe₃O₄/Cu-BTC via a facile hydrothermal approach with ferromagnetic properties and a large specific surface area of about 189.891 m² g^–1. The physico-chemical properties of as-synthesized materials were established via various spectroscopic, microscopic, and physical techniques. The catalytic activity of Fe₃O₄/Cu-BTC was evaluated for the hydration of nitriles to primary amides, and the catalyst was found to be efficient with up to 99% isolated yield. The catalyst was magnetically recoverable within a time span of 60 s and reusable up to the six catalytic cycles without any significant loss of catalytic activity. Large specific surface area, excellent magnetic retrievability, superior recyclability, and wider functional group tolerance are the outstanding features of this protocol.