Nanoparticle catalyzed reaction (NPCR): ZnO-NP catalyzed Ugi-reaction in aqueous medium

The first ZnO-NP catalyzed Ugi type three-component (AB2C) reaction has been developed for the synthesis of 2-arylamino-2-phenylacetimidamide from an aldehyde, amine and isocyanide in aqueous media. This nanoparticle catalysed reaction (NPCR) is high yielding and has good atom economy as well as atom efficiency. The synthesized phenylacetimidamide yielded 2-amino-2-phenylacetamide on hydrolysis with I2–SDS–water, whereas alkaline hydrolysis afforded the N-substituted α-amino acid.