Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 J IRAN CHEM SOC DOI 10.1007/s13738-017-1199-5 ORIGINAL PAPER Synthesis and characterization of magnetically nanoparticles of Fe 3 O 4 @APTMS@ZrCp 2 as a novel and reusable catalyst for convenient reduction of nitro compounds with glycerol Behzad Zeynizadeh 1  · Farhad Sepehraddin 1   Received: 5 March 2017 / Accepted: 12 September 2017 © Iranian Chemical Society 2017 reducing agents such as NaBH 4 , H 2 , hydrazine, formic acid (formats), alcohols and the others, reduction with hydrogen transferring agents is safer, highly selective and eco-friendly [9]. Recently, glycerol because of the signifcant physical and chemical properties such as polarity, low toxicity, high boiling point, biodegradability, non-fammability [10] and ability to dissolve inorganic salts, acids, bases and metal complexes as well as organic compounds is considered as an important biomass derived material [11, 12]. It is easily prepared as a by-product of biodiesel manufactures [13] and also is derived from sugars or sugar alcohols [14]. Nowa- days, using glycerol as a green hydrogen transferring agent has attracted a great deal of attention in organic synthesis [15–18]. There is also an ever increasing interest in synthesis, characterization, surface modifcation and application of magnetically nanoparticles (MNPs). They have large sur- face area, and are easily prepared or functionalized. Simple separation and the frequent reusability as well as low toxicity are the prominent characteristics of magnetically nanoparti- cles [19–21]. In addition, MNPs because of many hydroxyl groups on their surfaces have emerged as efcient alternative supports for deposition of homogeneous catalysts [22]. In line with the outlined strategies and continuation of our research program directed to the preparation and appli- cation of deposited copper hydroxide on magnetite [23], herein, we wish to report the synthesis and characterization of Fe 3 O 4 @APTMS@ZrCp 2 as a novel, heterogeneous and reusable magnetically nanoparticles for the efcient reduc- tion of aromatic and aliphatic nitro compounds to the cor- responding amines with glycerol in H 2 O. Abstract The present paper describes the synthesis of magnetically nanoparticles of zirconocene-modifed mag- netite, Fe 3 O 4 @APTMS@ZrCp 2 , as a new generation in heterogeneous and reusable type nanocatalysts. The pre- pared zirconocene nanocomposite was characterized using FT-IR, SEM, XRD, EDX, AGFM, ICP–OES, TGA and BET analyses. The core–shell nanocatalyst exhibited an excel- lent catalytic activity towards glycerol reduction of various nitro compounds to the corresponding amines. All reactions were carried out in H 2 O at room temperature (40–90 min) to aford amines in high to excellent yields. Reusability of the core–shell zirconocene was examined 5 times without signifcant loss of its catalytic activity. Keywords Amines · Cp 2 ZrCl 2  · Fe 3 O 4  · Glycerol · Nitro compounds · Reduction Introduction Reduction of nitro compounds is one of the most useful and straightforward methods for the preparation of amines. The amine synthesis is important from academic and industrial points of view. They are used frequently in the preparation of dyes, biologically active compounds, pharmaceuticals, rubber chemicals and photographic/agricultural chemicals [1–4]. During the last decades, numerous methods as well as reducing agents have been documented for reduction of nitro compounds to amines [5–8]. In this context and among * Behzad Zeynizadeh bzeynizadeh@gmail.com 1 Faculty of Chemistry, Urmia University, Urmia 5756151818, Iran