Preparation of magnetic biochar functionalized by polyvinyl imidazole and palladium nanoparticles for the catalysis of nitroarenes hydrogenation and Sonogashira reaction.

Catalysts are essential materials in biotechnology, medicine, industry, and chemistry. On the other hand, recycling and using waste materials is important in economic efficiency and green chemistry. Thus, biochar was prepared from the stem and roots of the Spear Thistle to recover waste. After magnetizing the biochar, its surface was modified with polyvinyl imidazole. Finally, this modified biochar was decorated with Pd nanoparticles and used as a selective and recyclable nanocatalyst in the hydrogenation of nitroarenes and the Sonogashira reaction. The structure of this organic-inorganic nanocatalyst has been characterized by FESEM-EDS, XRD, FT-IR, TEM, and VSM techniques. In the hydrogenation reaction with the amount of 30 mg of nanocatalyst, the temperature of 50 °C in the water solvent, the reaction efficiency reached 99% for 30 min. In addition, under optimal conditions for the Sonogashira reaction: 1.0 mmol iodobenzene, 1.2 mmol phenylacetylene, 20 mg MBC-PVIm/Pd, 2 mmol KCO in HO at 50 C for 15 min, the reaction efficiency reached 95%. The recyclability of magnetic nanocatalysts was investigated and recognized this nanocatalyst can be used several times without notable loss of its activity.