Marine-derived magnetic nanocatalyst in sustainable ultrasound-assisted synthesis of 2,3-diphenyl-2,3-Dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-One derivatives

This research presents a sustainable approach to fabricate iron oxide nanoparticles by employing phytochemicals derived from marine grass extract as both reducing and stabilizing agents. Formation of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) initially confirmed by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) showing absorption peak at 370 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques unveiled magnetic iron oxide NPs with a rod shape, an average size of 21 nm, and an inverse spinel crystal structure. The participation of organic compounds in the production and stabilization of MNPs was evidenced through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). A vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) demonstrated the magnetic properties of iron oxide NPs showing a saturation magnetization value of 21.46 emu/g. The catalytic efficiency of these marine-assisted MNPs was evaluated in a one-pot three-component reaction involving isatoic anhydride, aromatic aldehydes, and amines under ultrasonic conditions. Under optimal conditions, a low dose of 1.5 mg of biobased magnetite nanoparticles yielded dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-One products with up to 95 % efficiency in a brief duration of 15 min at an ultrasonic power intensity of 130 W. Different directing groups were investigated, and control experiments were carried out to enhance the understanding of the reaction mechanism. The obtained results highlight the synergistic effect of marine grass-mediated magnetic nanocatalysts combined with ultrasonic-assisted synthesis in developing sustainable green methodologies in organic synthesis.