ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Datura (D. stramonium) leaf extract–induced bioinspired synthesis of reduced graphene oxide and its catalytic application towards epoxide ring opening

Bhushashi Khuntey, Surabhi Upadhyay, Rahul Kumar, Sanju Yadav, Ankita Rai, Manorama Singh, and Vijai K. Rai

Department of Chemistry, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur, India

E-mail: vijaikrai@hotmail.com

Received: 4 January 2026  Accepted: 17 March 2026

Abstract:

The development of environmentally friendly catalysts is a key goal in green chemistry. In this study, we report the green synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using aqueous Datura stramonium leaf extract as a biogenic reducing agent. The resulting material, referred to as DARGO D, was characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM–EDX, and TEM–SAED to confirm effective deoxygenation and partial restoration of the graphene π-network. DARGO D was then explored as a sustainable, metal-free catalyst for the regioselective reduction of styrene oxide (SO) and its substituted derivatives to their corresponding alcohols in water using sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) as a mild reductant. Under optimized conditions, a high yield (94%) of 2-phenylethanol (2-PEol) was achieved with excellent selectivity. DARGO D also demonstrated good recyclability across multiple reaction cycles without significant loss of activity. This dual-purpose investigation emphasizes the intriguing possibilities of Datura-based rGO as both a green nanomaterial and an effective catalyst for eco-benign epoxide transformations.

Keywords: Datura leaf; Styrene oxide; rGO; Sustainable chemistry

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-026-04823-4

Chemical Papers 80 (7) 7377–7390 (2026)