(Cu/NCNTs): A new high temperature technique to prepare a recyclable nanocatalyst for four component pyridine derivative synthesis and nitroarenes reduction

N-Doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs), which are further decorated with copper nanoparticles, have been prepared using a novel approach to the pre-existing methods. Their properties and characteristics have been studied using different techniques including UV-vis, XPS, TGA, ICP-AES, VSM, CHN, XRD, SEM-EDAX and TEM analysis. The Cu/NCNTs show nanocatalytic activity for the synthesis of four component pyridine derivatives and selective reduction of nitroarenes to their corresponding amines at ambient temperature conditions. 1H NMR and 13C NMR were employed to confirm the products of the synthetic transformations. We also report a new pyridine derivative, ethyl 6-(4,6-diamino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl amino)-5-cyano-2-methyl-4-phenylpyridine-3-carboxylate (5j), via the use of melamine as the nitrogen source in the pyridine synthesis.