A novel CO2 fixation catalyst FCO@NWs to synthesize benzimidazole at atmospheric pressure

The utilization of CO 2 as an economical C1 feedstock for the production of valuable fine chemicals is widely recognized as a green and environmentally friendly approach. In this work, iron/cobalt oxide nanowires (FCO@NWs) composites were synthesized by a simple, convenient and cost-effective hydrothermal process. The FCO@NWs catalyst demonstrated efficient CO 2 fixation with o -phenylenediamine to produce benzimidazole at atmospheric pressure and 150 ℃. After 12 h reaction, the conversion rate of o -phenylenediamine reached an impressive 98%, indicating the catalyst's high efficiency in CO 2 fixation process. Through orthogonal experiments, the optimal reaction condition was confirmed and the application of the FCO@NWs catalyst for various o -phenylenediamine derivatives by substrate expansion was screened. Notably, this catalyst exhibited easy recoverability and reusability without significant loss in catalytic activity even after five cycles of experimentation. This study presents a promising approach for fixing CO 2 into valuable benzimidazole derivatives and contributes some experience to sustainable chemistry.