Iron oxide nanoparticles effectively catalyze the three-component coupling of aldehyde, alkyne and amine, report researchers at
McGill University, Montreal, Que., and the
East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai. Moreover, the catalysts are robust, safe and can be recovered simply and efficiently via magnets, avoiding particle losses typically encountered with filtration or centrifugation. The team used Fe
3O
4 nanoparticles to produce a diverse range of propargylamines at moderate to high yields. These compounds can serve as building blocks and skeletons of biologically active compounds, the researchers note.