Magnetic carbon nanotube supported Cu (CoFe2O4/CNT-Cu) catalyst: A sustainable catalyst for the synthesis of 3-nitro-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

•A novel magnetic carbon nanotube supported Cu catalyst was prepared.•It showed high catalytic activity for the synthesis of 3-nitro-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.•The catalyst could be easily isolated by magnetic decantation.•The catalyst was reused several times without significant loss in catalytic activity.

A magnetic carbon nanotube supported Cu catalyst (CoFe2O4/CNT-Cu) was prepared, characterized and evaluated as a recoverable catalyst for synthesis of 3-nitro-2-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via one-pot three-component reactions of 2-aminopyridines, aldehydes and nitromethane. The reactions proceeded in PEG 400 under aerobic conditions and the products were obtained in good to excellent yields. The catalyst can be successfully recycled for eight runs without appreciable loss of its activity.

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