Palladium nanoparticles bonded to two-dimensional iron oxide graphene nanosheets: A synergistic and highly reusable catalyst for the Tsuji-Trost reaction in water and air

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/chem.201402545

Low cost, high activity and selectivity, convenient separation, and increased reusability are the main requirements for noble-metal-nanocatalyst- catalyzed reactions. Despite tremendous efforts, developing noble-metal nanocatalysts to meet the above requirements remains a significant challenge. Here we present a general strategy for the preparation of strongly coupled Fe₃O₄ and palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) to graphene sheets by employing polyethyleneimine as the coupling linker. Transmission electron microscopic images show that Pd and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles are highly dispersed on the graphene surface, and the mean particle size of Pd is around 3 nm. This nanocatalyst exhibits synergistic catalysis by Pd nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and a tertiary amine of polyethyleneimine (Pd/Fe₃O₄/PEI/rGO) for the Tsuji-Trost reaction in water and air. For example, the reaction of ethyl acetoacetate with allyl ethyl carbonate afforded the allylated product in more than 99% isolated yield, and the turnover frequency reached 2200 h^-1. The yield of allylated products was 66% for Pd/rGO without polyethyleneimine. The catalyst could be readily recycled by a magnet and reused more than 30 times without appreciable loss of activity. In addition, only about 7.5% of Pd species leached off after 20 cycles, thus rendering this catalyst safer for the environment. Picking up speed: A multifunctional Pd nanocatalyst was synthesized by in situ growth of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) and the assembly of Fe₃O₄ NPs on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) by employing polyethyleneimine as the coupling linker. This nanocatalyst exhibits synergistic catalysis by the amine on the same rGO surface as the PdNPs for acceleration of the Tsuji-Trost reaction in water and air (see figure).