Direct oxidative amidation of benzyl alcohols using EDTA@Cu(II) functionalized superparamagnetic nanoparticles

•Direct oxidative amidation in the presence of a magnetic catalyst.•An effective protocol for a waste-minimized, environmentally benign approach for amidation.•High catalytic activity of Fe3O4@EDTA–Cu(II) and convenient recovery without loss of its activity.•Atom-economical amidation in the presence of Fe3O4@EDTA–Cu(II).•Fe3O4@EDTA–Cu(II) as an environmental friendly heterogeneous catalyst.

Superparamagnetic Fe3O4@EDTA–Cu(II) nanoparticles were readily prepared and identified as an effective catalyst for the tandem transformation of benzyl alcohols and amine hydrochloride salts into the corresponding amides with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant. After completion of the reaction, the catalyst can be removed from the reaction vessel by assistance of an external magnet and reused at least six times without significant loss of its activity.

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