Visible Light-Emitting Diode Light-Driven Cu0.9Fe0.1@RCAC-Catalyzed Highly Selective Aerobic Oxidation of Alcohols and Oxidative Azo-Coupling of Anilines: Tandem One Pot Oxidation–Condensation to Imidazoles and Imines

Here, we have demonstrated visible light-emitting diode light-driven selective and efficient aerobic oxidation of primary/secondary alcohols to aldehydes/ketones and oxidative azo-coupling of anilines using biomass rice husk-derived chemically activated carbon sheet-supported copper–iron bimetallic hybrid nanomaterials (CuxFe1–x@RCAC) under oxidant and additive-free conditions. The catalytic activity of the CuxFe1–x@RCAC materials has been investigated for the oxidation of alcohols and anilines, and Cu0.9Fe0.1@RCAC was established as the best catalyst. Moreover, a tandem one-pot protocol has been developed for the sequential oxidation of alcohols followed by condensation to functionalized imidazole and imine derivatives in high isolated yields. The hybrid materials were highly robust and stable under the reaction conditions and were recovered simply by filtration and recycled up to 12th run without considerable loss in catalytic activity.