A Robust Magnetically Recoverable Nickel Nanocatalyst for Sustainable α-Olefination of Nitriles Using Primary Alcohols

A Robust Magnetically Recoverable Nickel Nanocatalyst for Sustainable α-Olefination of Nitriles Using Primary Alcohols | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article A Robust Magnetically Recoverable Nickel Nanocatalyst for Sustainable α-Olefination of Nitriles Using Primary Alcohols Effat Vatankhah, Hossein Eshghi, Ali Shiri This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9324654/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted 11 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract A novel nickel nanocatalyst with a magnetic core was designed and synthesized through a multi-step procedure. First, an iron oxide core was synthesized (Fe 3 O 4 ), then coated with a silica layer (Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 ). The catalyst support was further functionalized using epichlorohydrin (EP) and ortho -phenylenediamine (OPDA) (Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 /EP/OPDA), and finally, nickel was loaded onto the structure to obtain the finished catalyst (Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 /EP/OPDA@Ni). Its successful fabrication was confirmed by various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and vibrating-sample magnetometry. The nanocatalyst was then effectively applied in the α-olefination of nitriles using primary alcohols through the reaction of a benzyl alcohol derivative with a benzyl cyanide derivative in refluxing toluene, using KO t -Bu as the base. The catalyst could be easily separated from the reaction mixture by applying an external magnetic field. It was also reusable, retaining its activity with only a minor loss over at least five consecutive cycles. Nickel nanocatalyst Benzyl cyanide Benzyl alcohol α-olefination reaction Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files SupportingInformation.pdf Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 03 May, 2026 Reviews received at journal 03 May, 2026 Reviews received at journal 02 May, 2026 Reviews received at journal 22 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 08 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 08 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 08 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 08 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 08 Apr, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 07 Apr, 2026 First submitted to journal 05 Apr, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9324654","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":619835177,"identity":"fb5c2da6-20d8-422c-96f8-43a78f4d9435","order_by":0,"name":"Effat Vatankhah","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ferdowsi University of Mashhad","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Effat","middleName":"","lastName":"Vatankhah","suffix":""},{"id":619835180,"identity":"4ecc8302-5cf3-4896-b60e-b85ecea71081","order_by":1,"name":"Hossein Eshghi","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAu0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACAwYGNgbGBgk5KF+CeC3GJGthSGwg2mHm7O3PHn7dYZG+4doBxg8/GCzyCWqx7Dljbix7RiJ3w+0EZskeBglLgtYZ3Mhhk5ZsA2thkAb6xYCgLQb3nz8DaUk3ANrymzgtNxjMJD+2SSQAtbARacuZHDNpxjYJw5m3E9ssewyI0XL8+DPJn2118ny3kw/f+FFRR1gLCDDzgClg7DAQpwGo9geRCkfBKBgFo2CEAgC89DbSgSkEQwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Ferdowsi University of Mashhad","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hossein","middleName":"","lastName":"Eshghi","suffix":""},{"id":619835183,"identity":"39a70810-f5b1-44ff-9409-8ceced07427a","order_by":2,"name":"Ali Shiri","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ferdowsi University of Mashhad","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ali","middleName":"","lastName":"Shiri","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-04-05 07:23:49","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9324654/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9324654/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":107481564,"identity":"8184d85f-c03e-4503-8935-7ab6afb5f917","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-22 02:19:09","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":898274,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"mainmanuscript2.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9324654/v1_covered_cbb7d0db-6c27-4182-89f6-e0ace408547d.pdf"},{"id":107078543,"identity":"05359a8b-5f18-484d-a723-b7e9e348bce0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-16 13:43:23","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":1323920,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"SupportingInformation.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9324654/v1/22648d7cd930460ba70f37a6.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"A Robust Magnetically Recoverable Nickel Nanocatalyst for Sustainable α-Olefination of Nitriles Using Primary Alcohols","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"transition-metal-chemistry","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"tmch","sideBox":"Learn more about [Transition Metal Chemistry](http://link.springer.com/journal/11243)","snPcode":"11243","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11243/3","title":"Transition Metal Chemistry","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Nickel nanocatalyst, Benzyl cyanide, Benzyl alcohol, α-olefination reaction","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9324654/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9324654/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eA novel nickel nanocatalyst with a magnetic core was designed and synthesized through a multi-step procedure. First, an iron oxide core was synthesized (Fe\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e), then coated with a silica layer (Fe\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e@SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e). The catalyst support was further functionalized using epichlorohydrin (EP) and \u003cem\u003eortho\u003c/em\u003e-phenylenediamine (OPDA) (Fe\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e@SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e/EP/OPDA), and finally, nickel was loaded onto the structure to obtain the finished catalyst (Fe\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e4\u003c/sub\u003e@SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e/EP/OPDA@Ni). Its successful fabrication was confirmed by various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and vibrating-sample magnetometry. The nanocatalyst was then effectively applied in the α-olefination of nitriles using primary alcohols through the reaction of a benzyl alcohol derivative with a benzyl cyanide derivative in refluxing toluene, using KO\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e-Bu as the base. The catalyst could be easily separated from the reaction mixture by applying an external magnetic field. It was also reusable, retaining its activity with only a minor loss over at least five consecutive cycles.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"A Robust Magnetically Recoverable Nickel Nanocatalyst for Sustainable α-Olefination of Nitriles Using Primary Alcohols","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-16 13:43:19","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9324654/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-05-03T16:19:24+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-03T04:13:11+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-02T15:11:23+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-22T12:52:55+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"104520344469029771288027972377053841775","date":"2026-04-08T17:37:18+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"92657373847318565738157928766665095640","date":"2026-04-08T12:22:01+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"329399009348142908605969688703067520928","date":"2026-04-08T10:58:24+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-04-08T10:03:32+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-04-08T09:59:11+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-04-08T03:29:29+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Transition Metal Chemistry","date":"2026-04-05T07:16:01+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"transition-metal-chemistry","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"tmch","sideBox":"Learn more about [Transition Metal Chemistry](http://link.springer.com/journal/11243)","snPcode":"11243","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11243/3","title":"Transition Metal Chemistry","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"bf4e7a12-d4c7-4b24-935c-dbf2ae9d5437","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 16th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-05-03T16:19:24+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-03T04:13:11+00:00","index":25,"fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-05-02T15:11:23+00:00","index":24,"fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"in-revision","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-03T16:25:55+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-16 13:43:19","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9324654","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9324654","identity":"rs-9324654","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}