Nano-CuFe2O4-supported sulfonic acid as a novel and recyclable nanomagnetic acid for diazotization of aromatic amines: efficient synthesis of various azo dyes

A novel heterogeneous sulfonic acid functionalized nanomagnetic CuFe 2 O 4 was successfully prepared and characterized by analyzing different obtained data including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering and vibrating sample magnetometer. Then the novel acidic reagent was examined in synthesis of various azo-containing compounds from coupling of aryl diazonium ferrite sulfate salts with aromatic and non-aromatic compounds. The procedure starts by diazotization of aromatic amines with NaNO 2 and wet CuFe 2 O 4 –SO 3 H and then coupling reaction of aryl diazonium ferrite sulfate salts with appropriate reagent. The prepared nano-solid acid showed high activity in synthesis of variety of aryl diazonium salts. In addition the as-prepared aryl diazonium ferrite sulfate salts are stable at room temperature for many hours and reacted efficiently in coupling reactions of aryl diazonium salts. All the azo dyes are synthesized in high yields and simple reaction conditions at room temperature. Moreover, the nanomagnetic solid acid was easily recovered from the reaction mixture and reused five runs without significant loss of activity. Graphical Abstract