Introduction of a new cobalt-containing Lewis acidic ionic liquid catalyst for the reduction of nitroaromatic compounds and aldehydes and one-pot reductive acetylation of arylaldehydes

In this study, a DABCO-based ionic liquid containing cobalt metal ([(DABCO)₂C₃H₅OH]·CoCl₄) was successfully synthesized through a simple method combined with DABCO, 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol and CoCl₂. The structure of this reagent was investigated via various analytical methods including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The catalytic performance of the prepared Lewis acidic catalyst was evaluated for the reduction of nitroarenes, and aromatic aldehydes and also one-pot reductive acetylation of aldehydes using NaBH₄ and CH₃COCl as the hydrogen donor and acetylating agent, respectively. Ease of preparation, reusability of the catalyst, short reaction times and excellent yields of the obtained compounds are among the salient features of this process.