Fe3O4@mesoporous SBA-15: a robust and magnetically recoverable catalyst for one-pot synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones via the Biginelli reaction.

A magnetic nanoparticle conjugated mesoporous nanocatalyst (Fe(3)O(4)@mesoporous SBA-15) with a high surface area has been synthesized by chemical conjugation of magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) nanoparticles with functionalized mesoporous SBA-15. Functionalized mesoporous SBA-15 containing surface carboxyl and amino groups was synthesized via the thiol-ene click reaction of cysteine hydrochloride and vinyl functionalized SBA-15. The catalytic activity of the robust, safe and magnetically recoverable Fe(3)O(4)@mesoporous SBA-15 nanocatalyst was evaluated in the Biginelli reaction under mild conditions for the synthesis of a diverse range of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones. The separation and reuse of the Fe(3)O(4)@mesoporous SBA-15 nanocatalyst were simple, effective and economical.