Molybdenum disulfide-catalyzed direct α-hydroxymethylation of amides employing methanol as a sustainable C1 source under photoirradiation

MoS2 quantum dot stabilized on magnetical copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) was prepared. The structural and textural of the designed CuFe2O4/polydopamine (PDA)/MoS2 were characterized. The heterogeneous CuFe2O4/PDA/MoS2 catalytic system-driven direct α-hydromethylation of amides using methanol as a green and renewable C1 source and air as a sole oxidant under visible light irradiation has been established for the first time. A wide range of β-hydroxyamide derivatives were obtained in high yields with excellent functional group tolerance. The photocatalyst can be recycled by an external magnetic field and reused several times without appreciably decreasing its catalytic activity.