A copper-free Sonogashira reaction using nickel ferrite as catalyst in water

•Nickel ferrite nanoparticles were applied successfully in a Sonogashira reaction.•Reactions were performed under green conditions using water as a solvent.•All the reactions were completed in short times with excellent yields.•The magnetic catalyst can be separated easily using an external magnetic field.•The catalyst is recyclable and reusable without activity lost.

The Sonogashira reaction using nickel ferrite nanoparticles as catalyst and under copper-free conditions was investigated in water as a green solvent. Various types of aryl and alkyl halides were successfully coupled with phenyl acetylene under the optimized reaction conditions with very good to excellent yields at a short time. The catalyst is easily recoverable and can be reused for several runs with a good turnover number.

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