Magnetically Retrievable Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles as Heterogeneous Catalyst for Synthesis of 1-Oxo-hexahydroxanthenes

In present study, magnetically separable cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CoFe2O4·NPs) have been prepared by low cost chemical precipitation method and reported as reusable, proficient heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of 1-oxo-hexahydroxanthenes among other ferrites. The structural and morphological studies by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the formation of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles. The current protocol evaluated a proficient catalyst for reaction between various salicylaldehydes and 1,3-diketones. The ambient reaction conditions, shorter reaction time, good to excellent yields of the products, ease of purification of the products and reusa-bility of catalyst up to five catalytic cycles without significant loss of catalytic activity making the current protocol promising for its practical application.