There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.
Abstract
Highly efficient copper nanoparticles supported over nanocellulose have been prepared
by a simple chemical reduction method. The cellulose was extracted from the inner
stem of Hibiscus sabdariffa and used as a polymer matrix for the synthesis of copper
nanoparticles. The formation of the nanoparticles was validated through different
characterization techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red
spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-vis spectroscopy (UV) and Energy dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy
(EDX). Moreover the morphology of the cellulose supported copper nanoparticles was
investigated using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and field emission
transmission electron micrograph (FETEM) which revealed the formation of spherical
nanoparticles with an average size of 7 nm. The synthesized catalyst was then utilized
effectively in the CN coupling reactions involving open chained as well as cyclic
secondary amines and electron deficient vinylic compounds. The catalyst demonstrated
excellent yield (82%-95%) and was easily recycled for upto six cycles without any
significant loss of catalytic activity.