Heck Reactions Catalyzed by Ultrasmall and Uniform Pd Nanoparticles Supported on Polyaniline

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/acs.joc.5b01358

Using air as the oxidant instead of the traditionally employed persulfates, the smaller and more uniform Pd nanoparticles (around 2 nm) supported on polyaniline (Pd@PANI) can be easily fabricated by the oxidation-polymerization of aniline with PdCl₂. This material is an efficient and environmentally friendly catalyst for Heck reactions due to its recyclability, low loading, and ligand-free and mild reaction conditions. It was even tolerant to sulfur-containing substrates. This work reports the Pd@PANI-catalyzed Heck reactions with very wide substrate scopes, and discloses the catalytic mechanisms based on experimental findings and results of catalyst analysis and characterization.