An efficient heterogeneous copper oxide nanocatalyst for N-alkylation of amines with carbonyl compounds under H2 atmosphere

The aim of this research is to investigate the potential of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) as a catalyst for the reductive N-alkylation of amines with carbonyl compounds in order to synthesize secondary amines in an H2 environment. The synthesized CuO NPs were characterized using UV–vis DRS, XRD, FT-IR, and TEM techniques, which confirmed their spherical shape, monoclinic phase, and average diameter of 9 ± 2 nm. The results of the catalytic study indicate that the CuO NPs catalyst was able to produce various secondary amines with excellent yield. The study also explored the effects of reaction time, temperature, and catalyst weight under optimum reaction conditions. Additionally, the synthesized CuO NPs were shown to be highly stable and could be reused for three cycles without any loss of activity in the formation of secondary amines.