Facile route to synthesize Fe3O4@acacia–SO3H nanocomposite as a heterogeneous magnetic system for catalytic applications

Abstract

In this work, a novel catalytic system for facilitating the organic multicomponent synthesis of 9-phenyl hexahydroacridine pharmaceutical derivatives is reported. Concisely, this catalyst was constructed from acacia gum (gum arabic) as a natural polymeric base, iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ NPs), and sulfone functional groups on the surface as the main active catalytic sites. Herein, a convenient preparation method for this nanoscale composite is introduced. Then, essential characterization methods such as various spectroscopic analyses and electron microscopy (EM) were performed on the fabricated nano-powder. The thermal stability and magnetic properties were also precisely monitored via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM) methods. Then, the performance of the presented catalytic system (Fe₃O₄@acacia–SO₃H) was further investigated in the referred organic reaction by using various derivatives of the components involved in the reaction. Optimization, mechanistic studies, and reusability screening were carried out for this efficient catalyst as well. Overall, remarkable reaction yields (94%) were obtained for the various produced derivatives of 9-phenyl hexahydroacridine in the indicated optimal conditions.