One-pot Conversion of Epoxides to 1,2-Diacetates in the presence of Cobalt Ferrite Magnetic Nanocatalyst under Solvent-free Conditions

Magnetic nanoparticles of CoFe2O4 were synthesized through a solid-state procedure in agate mortar and then calcined at high temperatures. The obtained CoFe2O4 nanoferrite was characterized by XRD, SEM, FT-IR and VSM techniques and used as catalyst in the one-pot efficient conversion of different epoxides bearing aryl, allyl and alkyl substituents to the corresponding 1,2-diacetoxy esters with acetic anhydride in oil bath 70 ºC under solvent-free conditions. Synthesis of 1,2-dicetates was carried out within 1-4 h with 77-95 yields. The magnetic nanocatalyst was easily separated using an external magnet and reused several times without any significant loss of catalytic activity or magnetic property.