10.1007/s13738-019-01623-4
The study focuses on synthesizing CuO supported 1-methyl-3-(3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl) imidazolium chloride (MTMSP-Im/Cl) nanoparticles as an efficient, simple, and eco-friendly heterogeneous nanocatalyst for the selective ring opening of epoxides with azide anion in water to produce β-azido alcohols. The CuO nanoparticles serve as the base material for the catalyst, providing a high surface area and reactive morphology. The MTMSP-Im/Cl is grafted onto the CuO nanoparticles to enhance the catalytic activity and facilitate the dispersion of the catalyst in water. Sodium azide acts as the azide anion source to react with epoxides in the presence of the catalyst to form β-azido alcohols. The synthesized nanocatalyst was characterized using various techniques, and it demonstrated high catalytic activity, easy separation, and recyclability for four cycles without significant loss of activity. The study highlights the advantages of this methodology, including excellent regioselectivity, high yields, short reaction times, and simple workup for obtaining products with high purity.