Synthesis and characterization of FeCuAlO4 as a reusable heterogeneous acidic nanocatalyst for preparation of 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives in water

2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives possess notable significance across therapeutic, agricultural, and industrial domains. The reaction of acid hydrazides and potassium thiocyanate in aqueous solution leads to the production of thiosemicarbazide derivatives. Hence the synthesis of 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives from acid hydrazides and potassium thiocyanate in aqueous solvent and a one-step process requires efficient nanocatalysts. In this study, the synthesis of 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives from acid hydrazides and potassium thiocyanate in the presence of FeCuAlO₄ NPs in aqueous solvent is reported. The synthesis of FeCuAlO₄ NPs was carried out via sol-gel auto-combustion. FeCuAlO₄ NPs were characterized using EDS, elemental mapping, FT-IR, XRD, FESEM, TEM, and BET. The analyses showed that FeCuAlO₄ NPs are single-phase, crystalline, and FCC type. The particle size distribution is about 47.76 nm, and the surface area of the FeCuAlO₄ NPs is 23.52 m²g⁻ ¹. Ultimately, the FeCuAlO₄ NPs can be recycled across four consecutive runs with only a minor drop in performance, highlighting its robust stability. Overall, the catalyst demonstrates significant benefits, such as environmentally friendly conditions, minimal catalyst usage, operational simplicity, recyclability, and excellent product yields (80-90%).