Agar: a natural and environmentally-friendly support composed of copper oxide nanoparticles for the green synthesis of 1,2,3–triazoles

A novel, green and cost-effective heterogeneous nanocatalyst was synthesized by supporting copper (I) oxide nanoparticles on magnetic agar (Cu₂O/Agar@Fe₃O₄). Then, it was characterized with multiple techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier-transform infrared (FT–IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, X-ray diffraction pattern, vibrating sample magnetometer curve, and inductively coupled plasma analysis. The catalytic activity of the newly designed catalyst was investigated in a one-pot three-component reaction of alkyl halides, sodium azide, and alkynes to obtain 1,4–disubstituted 1,2,3–triazoles in high yields in water–ethanol media. The present catalyst was simply separated from the reaction media by an external magnet and reused at least five subsequent runs without significant activity loss.