N4-donor Schiff base copper(II) nanoparticles were easily prepared through surface modification of
silica-coated magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2) with pyrrole 2-carbaldehyde Schiff base and a
subsequent reaction with Cu(CH3COO)2.H2O in ethanolic solution. This nanocatalyst was characterized
using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared
spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and magnetization. Efficient oxidation
of alkenes and alcohols was carried out over the Schiff base copper(II) nanoparticles. Catalytic
tests showed that the catalyst was particularly effective for the oxidation of a-methyl styrene, norbornene,
benzyl alcohol, and benzohydrol. The results showed that acetophenone, 2-norbornanone,
benzoic acid, and benzophenone with selectivity values of 88, 100, 100, and 100,
respectively, were obtained. The heterogeneous catalyst of N4-donor Schiff base copper(II) offers
advantages such as ease of product separation, catalyst recycling, and ease of preparation.
Antibacterial tests against two gram-positive and two gram-negative bacterial species found that
the bacteria stopped growing in the catalyst medium.