Preparation of a novel Cu‐Ni mixed nanoparticles immobilized on clay: An Eco-friendly Nanocatalyst for mild synthesis of Benzimidazoles and pyrimidines

In the present work, Cu‐Ni mixed nanoparticles immobilized in magnetic clay (MMT-BAC@Fe₃O₄@CuNi) nanocatalyst were successfully synthesized using a simple method for the first time. In the design of this catalyst, nickel and copper ions were reduced and deposited on clay layers using a benzalkonium chloride directing group. The proposed method offers a safe, sustainable, and selective approach for the synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazole and 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones using an environmentally friendly nanocatalyst. The solid catalyst was distinguished using a diversity of methods, including EDX (Energy Dispersive X-Ray), XRD (X-ray Diffraction), ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma), VSM (Vibrating Sample Magnetometer), FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) and FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy). The significant features of this new protocol include good to excellent efficiency, oxidant-free conditions, low catalyst loading, inexpensive and non-toxic catalyst, simple procedure, moderate conditions, straightforward work-up, short reaction times, and easy reuse of the nanocatalyst.