Efficient synthesis of magnetically separable CoFe2O4@SiO2 nanoparticles and its potent catalytic applications for the synthesis of 5-aryl-1,2,4-triazolidine-3-thione derivatives

Magnetically separable silica-coated cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4@SiO2) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized by sol-gel auto combustion method. Silica matrix was employed to minimize the agglomeration and coarsening of the MNPs. The structural and morphological properties of the as-prepared nanocatalyst were investigated using XRD, EDX, TEM-SAED, FTIR, XPS and VSM techniques. Furthermore, these nanoparticles were used as an efficient nanocatalyst for simple, swift and one-pot synthesis of 5-aryl-1,2,4-triazolidine-3-thione derivatives. The reaction steps include imine formation, cyclization, condensation and aromatization without use of any oxidizing or reducing reagents. The present methodology offers remarkable merits like shorter reaction time, mild reaction conditions, excellent yield, simplicity, safer reaction pathway, easy workup and recyclable catalyst without any significant loss in catalytic activity and can be used for large scale synthesis. Hence, the present study describing the synthesis of CoFe2O4@SiO2 nanoparticles by efficient sol-gel auto combustion method followed by the investigation of potent catalytic activities may be useful for nanochemistry research opening a new arena in this field.