Core–shell magnetic mesoporous N-doped silica nanoparticles: solid base catalysts for the preparation of some arylpyrimido[4,5-b]quinoline diones under green conditions

Nowadays, the application of solid base catalysts as a perfect replacement for homogenous basic catalysts has attracted the attention of researchers. In this study, core–shell magnetic mesoporous N-doped silica nanoparticles N(x wt%)-MSN, as a heterogeneous base catalyst, were synthesized. The N(x wt%)-MSN composite was fabricated by adding different amounts of diethanolamine as a source of nitrogen, besides using tetraethylorthosilicate as a precursor of silica. The as-prepared catalyst was employed efficiently for the synthesis of some arylpyrimido[4,5-b]quinoline-dione derivatives under green conditions. The highly efficient catalyst N(1.3 wt%)-MSN was characterized via XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, BET and XPS techniques, and the results of these analyses proved that the nitrogen was doped into the silica structure. Also, the results demonstrated the core–shell structure of the as-synthesized composite.