Catalyst application of ZnO nanostructures in solvent free synthesis of polysubstituted pyrroles

•The effect of sodium dodecylsulfate on the morphology of nano-ZnO was studied.•Different morphology of ZnO nanostructures has been used as a catalyst.•Nanorod ZnO shows high activity toward MCRs for the synthesis of pyrroles.•Nanorod ZnO is reusable and catalyze pyrrole synthesis at ∼ 70 °C.

A simple, rapid, efficient, and environmentally benign procedure for synthesis of polysubstituted pyrroles has been achieved by the three-component reaction of amines, phenacyl bromide and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates under solvent free conditions using nano structures of ZnO as catalyst. Different morphologies such as nanorods and nanosheets of catalysis have been synthesized by simple reflux method using sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and applied in this reaction. Nanorod ZnO catalyst exhibited a significant enhancement in the yield of the desired product. The catalyst exhibited remarkable reusable activity.

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