Green synthesis of xanthenes using a GLYMO/melamine-functionalized Fe3O4-based zinc nanocatalyst

Abstract

A magnetic nanocatalyst, Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@GLYMO@Melamine nanoparticles immobilized with zinc, was synthesized (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@GLYMO@Mel-Zn^II). The structure of the catalyst was characterized and confirmed using various analytical techniques, including FT-IR, FE-SEM, EDX, and VSM. The catalytic efficiency of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@GLYMO@Mel-Zn^II was demonstrated in the one-pot, three-component synthesis of a range of hexahydro-1H-xanthene-1,8(2H)-dione and 12-aryl/heteroaryl-8,9,10,12-tetrahydrobenzo[a]xanthen-11-one derivatives under solvent-free conditions at 100 °C. This method offers several key advantages, such as high product yields, short reaction times, simple work-up, catalyst reusability, environmentally benign conditions, the elimination of solvents, and the non-toxic nature of zinc as a metal center. Remarkably, the catalyst retained its activity over five consecutive cycles.