Environmentally benign copper nanoparticles supported on walnut shell as a highly durable nanocatalyst for the synthesis of propargylamines

Abstract

This study was an attempt to prepare copper nanoparticles and to determine their catalytic activity employing walnut shell (WS) residue as a green support and a reusable material. The nanocatalyst was characterized though inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), N2-sorption analysis, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalytic performance of CuNPs@WS was then studied in the preparation of propargylamines via a three-component reaction. The catalyst could be recovered and reused without a significant decrease in its activity over eight reaction cycles. The simple methodology described herein is an economic, ecofriendly and practical method accompanied by higher yields.