Barium Doped ZnO Nano-Particles: Preparation and Evaluation of their Catalytic Activity

Barium doped ZnO nano-particles have been prepared via homogeneous precipitation method under ambient conditions using zinc chloride and barium chloride as starting materials and were found to be effective catalysts for the three-component condensation reaction of 2-aminobenzoic acid, triethyl orthoformate and aromatic amines. The structural features of the samples were assessed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The average crystalline size estimated by using the Scherrer formula from the highest peak of the XRD was 85-86 nm for all samples. The results of BET are comparable with those obtained from XRD patterns. The change in the morphology and particle size of the as prepared composites was investigated. The particles are irregular in shape, mostly are spherical and some of them have hexagonal structure. The prepared nano-particles have been applied to the synthesis of a variety of quinazolin-4(3H)-ones. The products were isolated in high yields. In addition, the catalyst could be reused without any significant loss of its catalytic activity.