Ultrasonic assisted fabrication of first MoO3/copper complex bio-nanocomposite based on Sesbania sesban plant for green oxidation of alcohols.

MoO3 nanoparticles were obtained using Sesbania sesban. Novel Schiff base ligand and its nanocomplex of copper were synthesized under ultrasonic irradiation. First MoO3/Copper Schiff base complex nanocomposite (NMCS) based on this natural plant was prepared and characterized by TEM, SEM, AFM, FT-IR, TGA, EDAX and elemental analysis. Then atom-efficient and selective oxidation of alcohols using hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by NMCS bio-nanocomposite under ultrasonic irradiation was reported. Structurally diverse set of alcohols was transformed into desired aldehyde and ketone products with high conversion and excellent selectivity under solvent free conditions. Products were isolated easily from green media, and the catalyst could be reused six times without any appreciable decrease in catalytic activity and selectivity.