Synthesis and characterization of bentonite-based NiO nanoparticles as bi-functional heterogeneous catalyst for efficient synthesis of 1,8-dioxo-decahydroacridines.

A straightforward, expeditious, robust, and efficient synthesis of NiO@Bentonite nanocatalyst was done using a simple microwave method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), thermal behavior analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) techniques were used to characterize the physicochemical properties of the NiO@Bentonite nanocomposites. The outcomes demonstrated that the NiO nanoparticles are evenly distributed throughout the Bentonite surface and that the NiO@Bentonite nanocomposites have a high specific surface area and rich pore structure. The following report details the investigation of this catalyst for the preparation of 1, 8-dioxodecahydroacridine heterocycles in a one-pot, three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, dimedone, and aniline. After the conditions were optimized, the results demonstrated that this reaction could be carried out in an aqueous medium with a good yield.