Amino-functionalized graphene oxide nanocomposite as an efficient catalyst for the conversion of CO2 into oxazolidinone derivatives via a cascade reaction

In this study, we present the functionalization of graphene oxide (GO) with 3-quinuclidinol (Qu) to create an amino-functionalized graphene oxide nanocomposite (GO-Qu) as a basic catalyst and its application in a cascade reaction for the synthesis of oxazolidinone compounds via a carboxylative cyclization method. The GO-Qu nanocomposite was synthesized from the functionalization of GO with 3-quinuclidinol and was entirely characterized using techniques such as energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The catalytic activity of the GO-Qu nanocomposite was evaluated in a cascade reaction involving a self-condensation reaction of a primary amine compound in the first stage, followed by the synthesis of the oxazolidinone product in the second stage through the addition of an arylacetylene derivative. This cascade reaction was carried out using the GO-Qu nanocomposite as a basic catalyst in the presence of CuI as a co-catalyst under solvent-free conditions. Initially, the self-condensation reaction of amine derivatives was performed under a dry air atmosphere (using a balloon) at 100^οC, yielding imine intermediate compounds. Subsequently, this cascade reaction continued with the addition of arylacetylene to this mixture under an atmospheric pressure of CO₂ gas (using a balloon) at 100^οC. The corresponding oxazolidinone compounds were obtained with good to high yield (70-95 %) after 24 h. The reusability investigation of the GO-Qu nanocomposite showed that it could be recovered and recycled for five runs without a significant reduction in its catalytic activity.