Superparamagnetic Fe(OH)3@Fe3O4 Nanoparticles: An Efficient and Recoverable Catalyst for Tandem Oxidative Amidation of Alcohols with Amine Hydrochloride Salts.

Magnetic Fe(OH)3@Fe3O4 nanoparticles were successfully prepared and characterized. This magnetic nanocomposite was employed as an efficient, reusable, and environmentally benign heterogeneous catalyst for the direct amidation of alcohols with amine hydrochloride salts. Several derivatives of primary, secondary and tertiary amides were synthesized in moderate to good yields in the presence of this catalytic system. The catalyst was successfully recycled and reused up to six times without significant loss of its catalytic activity.