Application of a mesoporous structure as an efficient catalyst for the rapid and green synthesis of uracil derivatives in a recyclable environment

This study describes a benign, rapid, and highly efficient practical approach for synthesizing bis(6-amino-1,3-dimethyluracil-5-yl) methanes using 1,4-bis(pyridin-1-ium)benzene trifluoroacetate coordinated to chloropropyl functionalized SiO₂-nano-NiFe₂O₄ (BPTCSBF) as a bi-functional and reusable mesoporous catalyst in a recyclable green media. The catalytic scope of bi-functional BPTCSBF with acidic (~ NH⁺) and basic (CF₃COOˉ) sites was very broad and useful, as it rapidly produced products (1a–15a) from the reaction of various aryl-aldehydes with 6-amino-1,3-dimethyluracil in excellent yields (90–98%, 7–17 min) under optimal conditions (0.01 g catalyst, 60 °C, 1 mL EtOH:H₂O). This generality and high functionality were backed by the presentation of a rational mechanism. Easy magnetic separation of the catalyst with an external magnet, suitable one-pot procedure, high reproducibility of the catalyst with brilliant performance up to eight cycles, mild temperature, easy work-up, and synthesis/characterization of new derivatives to the literature are other highlights of the current work.

Graphical Abstract