A plasma-assisted strategy was developed for the synthesis of tetrazole derivatives using carbon-based nanocatalysts derived from biomass. Coconut coir was employed as a renewable carbon source to prepare a porous catalyst support, which was subsequently functionalized via N2/H2 nonthermal plasma treatment to introduce amino and carboxylic acid groups. The incorporation of TiO2 and CuO nanoparticles further enhanced the catalytic performance by increasing surface acidity and electron density. The resulting catalysts efficiently promoted a multicomponent reaction between acetoacetanilide, aromatic aldehyde derivatives, and 5-aminotetrazole, affording tetrazole products in high yields (up to 96%) under mild conditions in an ethanol–water mixture. This approach provides a sustainable, recyclable, and efficient route for tetrazole synthesis, highlighting the synergistic effect of plasma activation and biomass-derived nanostructures.

Keywords