Zahra Khorsandi,  ^a   Abdol R. Hajipour,  *^ab   Mohamad Reza Sarfjoo^a  and  Rajender S. Varma  *^c  

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Abstract

Herein, the synthesis of a nano-catalytic system comprising magnetic nanoparticles as the core and edible natural ligands bearing functional groups as supports for cobalt species is described. Subsequent to its characterization, the efficiency of the catalyst was investigated for C–N cross-coupling reactions using assorted derivatives of amines and aryl halides. This novel and easily accessible Pd- and Cu-free catalyst exhibited good catalytic activity in these reactions using γ-valerolactone (GVL) at room temperature; good recyclability bodes well for the future application of this strategy. The introduced catalytic system is attractive in view of the excellent efficiency in an array of coupling reactions and its versatility is illustrated in the synthesis of abemaciclib and fedratinib, which are FDA-approved new and significant anti-cancer medicinal compounds that are prepared under green reaction conditions.