Magnetic NiFe2O4nanoparticles: efficient, heterogeneous and reusable catalyst for synthesis of acetylferrocene chalcones and their anti-tumour activity

What is it about?

A robust synthesis for magnetic NiFe2O4 nanoparticles via hydrothermal technique was investigated. The prepared magnetic NiFe2O4 nanoparticles were characterized by powder x-ray, SEM, TEM, HR-TEM, EDAX, TGA, IR analysis and vibrating sample magnetometry. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analyses confirmed the formation of single-phase ultrafine particles nickel ferrite nanoparticles with high homogeneous cubic shape and elemental composition. Moreover, the prepared magnetic NiFe2O4 nanoparticles have been used as an efficient, cheap and eco-friendly catalyst for the Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction between acetylferrocene 1 with different aldehydes 2a-m (aromatic and/or heterocyclic) yielding acetylferrocene chalcones 3a-m in excellent yields, easy work-up, reduced reaction time and the products were purified via crystallization. The structures of the produced compounds were elucidated by different spectroscopic analyses (1H NMR, 13C NMR, GCMS). The catalyst is readily recovered by simple magnetic decantation and can be recycled several times with discernible loss of catalytic activity. Furthermore, the prepared chalcone derivatives were evaluated for their antitumor activity against three types of human tumor cell lines (Colon Cancer), MCF7 (breast) and HEPG2 (liver) and showed a good activity against Colon cancer.

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