Activity of two-dimensional Cr2CTx MXene for the synthesis of Eugenol-1,2,3-Triazole via click chemistry

Abstract

The development of efficient heterogeneous catalysts for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds is crucial for various applications. In this work, two-dimensional Cr₂CT_x MXene was successfully synthesized via a selective etching method using HF and HCl. Its formation and structural properties were comprehensively verified using various characterization techniques, including XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, FE-SEM, TEM, and XPS. In addition, the as-prepared Cr₂CT_x MXene was used as a catalyst support for the synthesis of eugenol-1,2,3-triazole via azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction. Optimal reaction conditions, utilizing 10 wt% Cr₂CT_x MXene at 80 °C for 17 h, resulted in a 33 % yield, where both intermediate compounds and the final product were comprehensively characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and LC-MS/MS. Besides, Cr₂CT_x MXene catalyst was successfully reused for up to three cycles, demonstrating excellent durability and maintaining high product yields without significant loss of activity. Furthermore, the synthesized eugenol-1,2,3-triazole exhibited significant antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay, with 80 % radical scavenging at a concentration of 1000 μg/mL. This finding offers novel insights into the catalytic potential of Cr₂CT_x MXene for efficient organic transformations, yielding compounds with promising antioxidant properties.