A new recoverable molybdenum nanocatalyst was prepared by
immobilization of a Schiff base ligand on the surface of silica coated
magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2) through condensation reaction
between 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane and 2-hydroxy1-naphthaldehyde
and succeeding reaction with dioxomolybdenum(VI) acetylacetonate
(MoO
2(acac)2). The synthesized catalyst was characterized by inductively
coupled plasma, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron
microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, Energy-dispersive X-ray,
Fourier transform infrared and X-raydiffraction spectroscopy. Catalytic
performance of the synthesized nanocatalyst was investigated for the
preparation of 2-amino-4H-benzo[h]chromenes. The compounds
were prepared high yield through one-pot, three-component reaction
of 1-naphthol, various of aldehydes and malonitrile in the presence of
nanocatalyst, Fe3O4@SiO2@Mo-Schiff base, under solvent-free conditions.
The benefits of this protocol are short reaction time, simple work-up
procedure, high yields and use of the concept of green chemistry. The
magnetic nanocatalyst could be separated easily from the reaction media
using an external magnetic field and reused in subsequent catalytic runs
without significant deterioration of its activity.