Nanomagnetic organic-inorganic hybrid (CuFe2O4@Si-Imid-PMo): an efficient green catalyst for the synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles

In this research, a new magnetic nanocatalyst CuFe2O4@Si-Imid-PMo containing acidic ionic liquid based on imidazolium cation and phosphomolybdic acid anion immobilized on CuFe2O4@SiO2 magnetic nanoparticles was prepared and characterized using FT-IR, EDX, SEM, and VSM techniques. Then, the catalytic activity of CuFe2O4@Si-Imid-PMo was evaluated in the synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles. The results showed that the catalyst had high activity and the desired products were obtained in high yields within short reaction times. The best result was obtained at 120 °C in the presence of 0.02 g of the catalyst under solvent-free conditions. The catalyst was also readily recovered by an external magnet and could be used for several times without substantial reduction in its catalytic activity.