Ultrasonic Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis of NiO Nanocatalyst for Low Temperature 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-Ones and Thiones Condensation Under Solvent-Free Conditions
Abstract Present work reports one step hydrothermal method as a green processto synthesizenickel (II) oxide (NiO) nanoparticles using nickel nitrate, and some natural essences as surfactant including Orange blossom, Yarrow, Hibiscus tea, Green tea, Rosemary and Barberryas at 80 ºC in autoclave for 24 h followed by calcination at 700 ºC for 8 h. Rietveld analysis data revealed that the obtained NiO nanomaterials were crystallized in a pure cubic crystalsystem. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images showed that the morphology of the obtained materials was changed from non-homogeneous particles to homogeneous spherical particles when the surfactant type was changed from Orange blossom to Barberryas. Catalytic activity of the nanomaterials was investigated in Biginelli reactions for the synthesis of heterocyclic 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones (DHPMs) compounds. The synthesis yields at optimum conditions (60 mg of catalyst, 90 ºC reaction temperature and 90 min reaction time) were 94% and 97% for S1 and S6, respectively. Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model revealed that the reactions followed a pseudo-first order kinetic model.