Preparation and characterization of Cu supported on 2‐(1 H ‐benzo[ d ]imidazol‐2‐yl)aniline‐functionalized Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles as a novel magnetic catalyst for Ullmann and Suzuki cross‐coupling reactions

Copper supported on 2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)aniline (BIA)-functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Cu-BIA-Si-Fe3O4) as a novel magnetic catalyst was designed and used for the synthesis of new products via Ullmann and Suzuki cross-coupling reactions. The Ullmann reaction was performed by mixing arylboronic acid with aniline derivatives in dimethylsulfoxide solvent. Also, diaryls were synthesized via Suzuki C-C reactions between aryl halides and phenylboronic acid in the same solvent. The prepared materials and catalyst were characterized with various analytical techniques. The Cu-BIA-Si-Fe3O4 catalyst demonstrated catalytic efficiency with good to excellent yields for both types of reactions in comparison with commercial palladium catalysts. Also, the catalyst could be recovered by a simple filtration and retained its activity even after several cycles.