Triazine diphosphonium tetrachloroferrate ionic liquid immobilized on functionalized halloysite nanotubes as an efficient and reusable catalyst for the synthesis of mono-, bis- and tris-benzothiazoles.

Aminopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diphosphonium tetrachloroferrate immobilized on halloysite nanotubes [(APTDP)(FeCl 4 ) 2 @HNT] was prepared and fully characterized using different techniques such as FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), SEM/EDX, elemental mapping, TEM, ICP-OES, and elemental analysis (EA). This nanocatalyst was found to be highly effective for synthesis of various benzothiazole derivatives in excellent yields under solvent-free conditions. Furthermore, bis- and tris-benzothiazoles were smoothly synthesized from dinitrile and trinitrile in the presence of this catalytic system. High yields and purity, easy work up procedure, high catalytic activity (high TON and TOF) and easy recovery and reusability of the catalyst make this method a useful and important addition to the present methodologies for preparation of these vital heterocyclic compounds.