Zeolite Beta nanoparticles assembled Cu catalysts with superior catalytic performances in the synthesis of thioesters by cross-coupling of aldehydes and disulfides

•Cu-Beta-Nano with highly external surface area was successfully synthesized.•The Cu-Beta-Nano exhibits high activity for the synthesis of thioesters in water.•The Cu-Beta-Nano catalyst presents high chemical stability.

Development of the highly active and stable heterogeneous transition metal catalysts is of great importance in synthetic chemistry. Herein, zeolite Beta nanoparticles assembled Cu catalyst (Cu-Beta-Nano) with high external surface area was directly synthesized, and it exhibits excellent catalytic activity and good recyclability in cross-coupling of aldehydes and disulfides for synthesis of thioesters. The high activity and good recyclability of the Cu-Beta-Nano catalyst should be attributed to the high external surface area of the catalyst and highly dispersed active copper species in the zeolite.

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