Fabrication of nitrogen‐enriched graphene oxide/Cu NPs as a highly efficient and recyclable heterogeneous nanocatalyst for the Chan–Lam cross‐coupling reaction

Herein, we demonstrate the direct polymerization of melamine and cyanuric chloride in the surface of graphene oxide (GO) (N‐enriched GO) in order to develop a new nanocatalyst. The supramolecular polymerized GO acts not only as a spacer to prevent the restacking of graphene sheets but also as a nitrogen source to generate active centers for Cu NP attachments. Subsequently, the nitrogen on the surface of the GO sheets coordinates with copper ions to generate copper nanoparticles. The prepared nanocatalyst was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. This catalyst showed high efficiency and good activity in the Chan–Lam cross‐coupling reaction of N‐heterocycles and aniline derivatives with high yields in short reaction times. In addition, the nanocatalyst was easily recovered and reused for five consecutive runs without any noticeable loss of performance. Nitrogen‐enriched graphene oxide/Cu nanocatalyst was synthesized from direct polymerization of melamine and cyanuric chloride in the surface of graphene oxide and decorated with Cu NPs. Nitrogen‐enriched graphene oxide/Cu nanocatalyst was applied in Chan–Lam cross‐coupling reaction of N‐heterocycles and aniline derivatives. Nitrogen‐enriched graphene oxide/Cu easily recovered and reused for five consecutive runs without any noticeable loss of performance.