Hybrid Pd/Fe3O4 nanowires: Fabrication, characterization, optical properties and application as magnetically reusable catalyst for the synthesis of N-monosubstituted ureas under ligand-free conditions

•Preparation of Pd/Fe3O4 nanowires as magnetically reusable catalysts.•The optical properties of the catalyst were studied using Gans theory.•N-arylation of benzylurea and in situ hydrogenolysis of 1-benzyl-3-arylureas.

This paper reports the synthesis and use of Pd/Fe3O4 nanowires, as magnetically separable catalysts for ligand-free amidation coupling reactions of aryl halides with benzylurea under microwave irradiation. Then, the in situ hydrogenolysis of the products was performed to afford the N-monosubstituted ureas from good to excellent yields. This method has the advantages of high yields, simple methodology and easy work up. The catalyst can be recovered by using a magnet and reused several times without significant loss of its catalytic activity. The catalyst was characterized using the powder XRD, SEM, EDS and UV–vis spectroscopy. Experimental absorbance spectra was compared with results from the Gans theory.

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