Air-stable zirconocene bis(perfluorobutanesulfonate) as a highly efficient catalyst for synthesis of N-heterocyclic compounds

•A general and mild protocol for the synthesis N-heterocyclic compounds.•Catalytic amount of [Cp2Zr(H2O)2] [OSO2C4F9]2 exhibited higher catalytic activity.•The good-to-excellent yields were obtained under solvent-free condition.•Catalyst can be reused without significant loss of activity in a test of five cycles.

Zirconocene bis(perfluorobutanesulfonate) is air- and water-stable and proved to be ionic on basis of conductivity measurements. It exhibits high catalytic efficiency for the synthesis of N-heterocyclic compounds under solvent-free condition, such as benzimidazoles, benzodiazepines, dihydropyrimidinones and dihydropyridines under mild condition. Furthermore, it can be reused without loss of activity in a test of five cycles. This catalytic system affords a simple and efficient approach for the synthesis of N-heterocyclic compounds.

Graphical abstractZirconocene bis(perfluorobutanesulfonate) is air- and water-stable and exhibits high catalytic efficiency for the synthesis of N-heterocyclic compounds. Furthermore, it can be reused without loss of activity in a test of five cycles. This catalytic system affords a simple and efficient approach for the synthesis of N-heterocyclic compounds.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide