Copper nanoparticles decorated on boron nitride nanoflakes as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of propargylamines under green conditions

Single or multilayer boron nitride nanoflakes (BNNSs), known as white graphite, due to their have various technological applications unique properties such as mechanical stability, high thermal stability and chemical inertness. In this study, copper (Cu) nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully uniformly attached on BNSS surface by precipitation process. The morphology, composition, and chemical structure of modified BNNS were carefully identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption–desorption, elemental mapping and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), UV–vis absorption spectra, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was observed that the Cu/BNSs displayed excellent catalytic activity and recyclability for the generation of diverse propargylamines at mild conditions of three component reaction of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes. It also demonstrates that BNNSs act as efficient support to generate heterogeneous catalysts. © 2022