Cellulose supported bimetallic Fe–Cu nanoparticles: a magnetically recoverable nanocatalyst for quick reduction of nitroarenes to amines in water

In this study, an easy procedure for nanoparticle immobilization of bimetallic Fe–Cu on microcrystaline cellulose as an environmentally benign material is described. The prepared nanocomposite Fe–Cu@MCC was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, thermogravimetric and zeta potential analyses. The cellulose nanocomposite was applied as a magnetically recoverable catalyst for the efficient and quick reduction of structurally diverse nitroarenes to arylamines with NaBH₄. Reduction reactions were carried out in H₂O within 5–14 min to afford the products in high to excellent yields. The heterogeneous nanocatalyst was readily isolated from the reaction mixture by an external magnet and reused 8 times without significant loss of its catalytic activity.