Introduction

Crucial aim of catalytic reactions in organic synthesis is the success in the selective production of target compounds with high efficiency in terms of atom economy and the yield of each reaction step. The ease of separation and recyclability of the catalyst are other noticeable challenges in this field. Hence, researchers try to design new catalysts and examine them in organic reactions to achieve new methodologies1. They wish to produce the products by these catalyst via green and eco-friendly steps in which minimum amount of toxic reagents or wastes is used or produced, respectively, and the needed energy and the number of reaction steps are reduced. Currently, one-pot reactions and heterogeneous catalysis are the most attractive choices to design new methods for the synthesis of target compounds because this way saves the consuming energy, while separation and purification of the product is simple with no need to isolate the intermediates, and the catalyst is filtered and possibly reused2. Besides, the structure of heterogeneous catalysts can be modified with various functions, otherwise diverse functions in a catalyst can work separately or cooperatively in different steps3,4.

Incorporation of metal nanoparticles (NPs) onto a substrate of catalyst has received increased attention in recent years. This is as a result of improvements in catalytic methodologies, particularly by the development of bottom-up approaches. Preparation and stabilization of metal NPs need specific capping organic molecules, including polymers, ligands, and surfactants, to control the NPs size and to prevent agglomeration of particles5.

The ways for the preparation of distinct supported metal NPs and innovation of procedures for the isolation and recycling of catalysts are of hot topics in catalytic research. In this regard, researchers have drawn their attention on the design of new supported magnetic NPs based catalysts that can be effortlessly separated from the mixture using magnets6.

Lately, magnetic nanoparticles have been applied as excellent supports with a great surface-to-volume ratio led to notable stability, great catalyst loading capability, uniform dispersion, and suitable recycling7.

Silver nanoparticles owing to their individual physical and chemical properties are widely used in different fields such as medicine, health, agriculture, animal husbandry, household, electronics, and packaging8. One of the principal problems of the usage of the nanoparticles in reactions is related to their aggregation. Stabilization of nanoparticles on proper supports overcomes the problems associated with their stability, separation, and recovery. In this regard, various supports have been utilized for the stabilization of nanoparticles such as zeolite, TiO2, graphene oxide, Fe3O49,10,11,12, and carbon-based supports13,14,15,16,17, Among the different supports, g-C3N4 has shown good chemical resistance18,19,20.

1,2,3-Triazole bearing N-heterocyclic systems have been used in various fields of chemistry21,22,23,24. Even though such structures are not found in natural sources, they are acted as amide-bond surrogates in biologically active compounds owing to their large dipole moment, forming hydrogen bonds, and incredible metabolic stabilities during enzymatic degradation25,26,27.

The amide-triazole isosteric substitution in 1,2,3-triazole compounds was employed for the synthesis of a wide range of medicinal frameworks having anti-HIV, antibacterial and anticancer activities28,29,30,31,32.

In 2001, Sharpless and Meldal discovered that Copper (I) can regioselectively catalyze alkyne-azide cycloaddition and named briefly it as CuAAC reaction. This reaction was then categorized as the ‘‘paradigm’’ of all ‘‘click reactions’’33,34,35.

In order to develop the catalytic synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles, some transition metals, including zinc (Zn)36,37, gold (Au)38, and nickel (Ni)39, were also utilized40. In 2013, Erick Cuevas demonstrated that AgCl complex catalyzed the formation of 1,2,3-triazoles41.

One type of the KA2 and A3 coupling reactions is the treatment of alkynes with amines and carbonyl compounds. Such coupling reactions are important due to the construction of propargylamines as valuable substrate in the architecture of various organic compounds, including natural products, bioactive nitrogen-rich compounds such as fungicides and herbicides, and heterocyclic structures such as quinolines, pyrroles, and indolizines42,43,44,45,46. Remarkably, KA2 and A3 coupling reactions not only are employed in the synthesis of propargylamines, but also are considered as alternatives for the classic synthesis of propargylictriflates and propargylic phosphates. Transition metal based catalysts including Au, Zn, Cu, Ag, and Fe can promote such coupling reactions47,48.

Because of the importance of coupling reactions in art of synthesis, recently researches has been focused on the deletion of their drawbacks, especially by designing nontoxic heterogeneous catalysis49,50,51,52,53.

In attempt to disclose the utility of C3N4 as a promising catalyst support for design and synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts54,55,56,57, in this work, we claim the preparation and full characterization of Fe3O4/g-C3N4/Alginate-Ag nanocomposite as an effective and novel nanocatalyst in the regioselective synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted -1,2,3-triazoles via Click58,59,60 and A3 and KA261 coupling reactions under mild and environmentally benign conditions.

Experimental

Materials and instruments

The catalyst was synthesized using the following chemical materials: Thiourea, Polyalginate, AgNO3, NH3, FeCl3·6H2O, FeCl2·4H2O and hydrazine hydrate. All purchased from Sigma-Aldrich and used without any purification.

For the synthesis of triazole derivatives and A3 and KA2 coupling products, α-haloketones or alkyl halides, terminal alkynes and sodium azide, morpholine or piperidine and different aromatic aldehyde were used. These compounds were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich on analytical grade. The progress of click reaction was monitored by TLC silica gel 60 F254, using ultraviolet light.

To characterize Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alginate-Ag, SEM, EDX, XRD, TEM, FTIR, and ICP-AES were employed. FTIR spectra of each hybrid component of catalyst was recorded using KBr disks on FTIR spectrometer Bruker Tensor 27 in the 400–4000 cm−1 region. SEM image of the catalyst was obtained from a FESEM-TESCAN-MIRA3 microscope coupled with EDX (TSCAN). X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern was achieved by a Co Kα radiation (λ = 1.78897 Å, 40 keV and 40 Ma).

Synthesis of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alginate-Ag magnetic nanocatalyst

Synthesis of g-S-C3N4

Thiourea (5.0 g) was put into a crucible and then heated at 550 °C and for 3 h. Then, the product (g-C3N4) was powdered.

Synthesis of Fe3O4-g-C3N4

At first, 1.0 g of g-C3N4 was added to the 120 mL of H2O and then was dispersed, after that, Fe3+and Fe2+ with molar ratio 2:1 were added to the reaction mixture. Then, it was heated at 55 °C. Next, 10 mL of ammonia solution (28%) was poured to it. This mixture was stirred for 1 h. After the end of reaction, the precipitated was separated by an external magnet, and washed several times with distilled water and ethanol (2:1) and dried at 25 °C for overnight.

Synthesis of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg-Ag

Typically, 1.0 g of Fe3O4-g-C3N4 was poured in distilled water (40 mL) and stirred for 30 min. Then 20 mL of the solution of the alginate polymer (1.5%) was added to the above of the reaction mixture. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 5 h. Then, 30 mL of the AgNO3 (3 mM) was added. This mixture was stirred for 2 h, after that 0.5 mL diluted hydrazine hydrate was poured and stirred for 24 h. Finally, the magnetic precipitate was collected with an external magnet. The target product washed with distilled water and ethanol (2:1) and dried at 25 °C for overnight. The ICP-AAS analysis was used to the determination of Ag immobilized on the prepared nanocatalyst, that the results showed, 0.9 mmol of Ag loaded in the 1 g of catalyst (Fig. 1).

Figure 1
figure 1

The schematic route for the preparation of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg-Ag catalyst.

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General procedure for the synthesis of 1,4-disubstituded 1,2,3-triazoles

To a mixture of alkyl halide or α-haloketone (1 mmol), sodium azide (1.2 mmol), and terminal alkyne (1 mmol) in water (5 ml), Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg-Ag (0.02 g) as a catalyst was added and the resulting mixture was magnetically stirred for the appropriate time. At the end of the reaction (monitored by TLC), the solid was filtered off and recrystallized in EtOH (Fig. 2).

Figure 2
figure 2

Synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles.

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Typical procedure of A3 and KA2 coupling reaction

0.02 g of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg-Ag was poured into a round bottom flask containing an aqueous mixture of alkyne (1.1 mmol), aromatic aldehyde (1 mmol), and piperidine/morpholine (1 mmol). After stirring and heating the reaction mixture for appropriate time, which was monitored by TLC, it was cooled down and filtered (Fig. 3). The crude product comprising catalyst was dissolved in hot EtOH and the residue catalyst was filtered. Then, the filtrated was cooled to give the crystalized pure product.

Figure 3
figure 3

A3 and KA2 coupling reactions.

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Result and discussion

Catalyst characterization

FT-IR spectra of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg-Ag nanocatalyst was recorded to detect the functional groups in this catalyst. As shown in Fig. 4a, FT-IR spectrum of Fe3O4 displays a strong absorption band at 597 cm−1 belonging to the tetrahedral structure of trivalent Fe–O absorption. The hydroxyl groups existing in the Fe3O4 surface illustrates a broad band at 3422–3500 cm−1. Figure 4b shows a strong band at 797 cm−1 belonging to the special bending vibration of triazine moiety. The bands appeared at the range of 1200 to 1400 cm−1 are related to the stretching vibration of C–N group. The peak appeared at 1611 cm−1 is due to the stretching vibration of C=N group. In addition, stretching vibration of NH has appeared at 3450 cm−1. FT-IR spectrum of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg-Ag nanostructure is shown in Fig. 4c. As Fe3O4-g-C3N4 was covered with the polymer, the weak band at 2963 cm−1 probably is due to the stretching vibration of aliphatic CH in the polymer structure. Figure 4c show the FT-IR spectrum of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg-Ag in which there is no change by comparing it with its substrate. Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg-Ag is formed after decomposition of Ag NPs on the Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg, and this spectrum shows the stability of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg during synthesis of Ag NPs.

Figure 4
figure 4

FT-IR spectra of (a) Fe3O4, (b) g-C3N4 and (c) Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg-Ag nanomaterials.

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By using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) the morphology and size of the Fe3O4-g-S-C3N4-Alg-Ag synthesized nanocatalyst were investigated (Fig. 5). The particles almost have a spherical and the average size of them is about 28 nm. Whereas the surface of the g-C3N4 covered with Fe3O4 and Ag nanoparticles cannot be observed of theirs.

Figure 5
figure 5

SEM image of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg-Ag nanomaterials.

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The EDX analysis as elemental analysis confirmed the presence of Ag, O, Fe, C, S, and N elements which can be confirmed elemental analysis of prepared catalyst (Fig. 6). The EDX-mapping images of synthesized nanocatalyst illustrated in Fig. 7. The elements of Ag, O, Fe, C, S, and N were goodly dispersed into the nanocatalyst.

Figure 6
figure 6

EDX analysis of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg-Ag nanomaterials.

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Figure 7
figure 7

EDX-mapping study of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg-Ag nanomaterials.

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The XRD technique is as a method for considering crystal structures of the material. The XRD pattern of the Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg-Ag nanocatalyst magnetic was illustrated in the Fig. 8.

Figure 8
figure 8

XRD pattern of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg-Ag nanomaterials.

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The recorded peaks at 2Ө = 30.1°, 35.4°, 43.1°, 53.5°, 57.2°, and 62.7°, related to the planes (2 2 0), (3 1 1), (4 0 0), (4 2 2), (5 1 1), and (4 4 0) respectively, that can be confirmed face-centered cubic structure of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (JCPDS card no. 19‐0629). Also the XRD pattern of Ag nanoparticles shows the peaks at 2θ = 38.0°, 44.2°, 64.5°, and 77.5° that can be related to the planes (1 1 1), (2 0 0), (2 2 0) and (3 1 1) respectively, (JCPDS card no. 65‐2871), the planes g-C3N4 shows a peak at 2θ = 28° (JCPDS card no. 87-1526). This peak confirmed the presence of g-C3N4.

According to the TEM analysis, Fe3O4 and Ag nanoparticles were dispersed on the g-C3N4-Alginate. TEM images display the mean size of the particles are about 12 nm. It also shows that g-C3N4 sheets are nanoscale (Fig. 9).

Figure 9
figure 9

TEM image of the Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alg-Ag nanomaterials.

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Catalytic activity

It was found that this is a potent catalyst in organic transformations. To study this supposition, Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alginate-Ag was used as catalyst in the Click reaction of sodium azide, α-haloketone or alkyl halide and terminal alkynes for the synthesis of triazoles. Primarily, the reaction of phenylacetylene, benzyl bromide and sodium azide was designated as the model reaction and run in the different solvents and also under solvent‐free conditions. Pleasantly, by comparing the yields of the model reactions in different solvents, it was confirmed that water as the best protic solvent gained the highest yield of the desired product. Afterward, to find the optimum reaction temperature and the effective amounts of catalyst, the model reaction was repeated in the presence of various catalyst amounts at different reaction temperatures (Table 1).

Table 1 Optimization reaction condition using Fe3O4/s-C3N4-Starch-Ag As catalyst.
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The results indicated that the highest yield of the model product was achieved at room temperature in the presence of 0.02 g of catalyst. The generality of the protocol was then studied. For this purpose, Various substrates with different electron densities were participated in this reaction under optimum conditions and numerous 1,2,3‐triazoles were produced (Table 2). The results proved that Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alginate-Ag is a good candidate to catalyze the reactions of different substrates giving the corresponding 1,2,3‐triazoles in short reaction times and great yields.

Table 2 Synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles in the presence of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alginate-Ag52,53.
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Reaction mechanism

Relied on the preceding reports48, a suggested probable mechanistic route for the three‐component click reaction in the presence of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alginate-Ag as catalyst is depicted in Fig. 10. Initially, the azide ion is served as a nucleophile group to add to benzyl halide. Instantaneously, the catalyst stimulates the terminal alkyne tolerating homocoupling reaction to attain a diyne. Lastly, the desired product 1,2,3‐triazole is provided via CuI‐mediated cycloaddition reaction.

Figure 10
figure 10

Plausible reaction mechanism.

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Next, we examined the three-component A3 and KA2 coupling reactions of aromatic aldehydes, phenyl acetylene and cyclic amine in the presence of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alginate-Ag as a catalyst in H2O at ambient temperature. The coupling compounds were efficiently obtained in good to excellent yields (Table 3).

Table 3 A3 and KA2 coupling reactions in the presence of Fe3O4-g- C3N4-Alginate-Ag55,56.
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Catalyst recyclability

Finally, the recyclability of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alginate-Ag was investigated. In this regard, the product yield in the model product was studied for 6 cycles in the presence of fresh and recycled Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alginate-Ag (Fig. 11). The results demonstrated that Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alginate-Ag can be recycled for seven reaction runs while its catalytic activity was not reduced.

Figure 11
figure 11

Reusability of Fe3O4-g-C3N4-Alginate-Ag.

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Conclusion

In this work, Ag nanoparticle immobilized on Fe3O4/g-C3N4/Alginate was synthesized and applied in Click and A3 and KA2 coupling reactions in water as a green solvent. The merits of these reactions are short reaction time, good efficiency and purity. The synthesized nanocatalyst also was readily separated from the reaction mixture using an external magnet, washed and reused for several runs without a significant decrease in its activity (Supplementary Information).