Resin-immobilized palladium nanoparticle catalysts for organic reactions in aqueous media: Morphological aspects

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules201018661

An insight into the nano- and micro-structural morphology of a polymer supported Pd catalyst employed in different catalytic reactions under green conditions is reported. The pre-catalyst was obtained by copolymerization of the metal-containing monomer Pd(AAEMA)₂ [AAEMA = deprotonated form of 2-(acetoacetoxy) ethyl methacrylate] with ethyl methacrylate as co-monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker. This material was used in water for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of aryl bromides, and for the reduction of nitroarenes and quinolines using NaBH₄ or H₂, as reductants. TEM analyses showed that in all cases the pristine Pd(II) species were reduced in situ to Pd(0), which formed metal nanoparticles (NPs, the real active species). The dependence of their average size (2-10 nm) and morphology on different parameters (temperature, reducing agent, presence of a phase transfer agent) is discussed. TEM and micro-IR analyses showed that the polymeric support retained its porosity and stability for several catalytic cycles in all reactions and Pd NPs did not aggregate after reuse. The metal nanoparticle distribution throughout the polymer matrix after several recycles provided precious information about the catalytic mechanism, which was truly heterogeneous in the hydrogenation reactions and of the so-called "release and catch" type in the Suzuki coupling.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules201018661

Molecules 2015, 20, 18661-18684; doi:10.3390/molecules201018661
OPEN ACCESS
molecules
ISSN 1420-3049
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
Article
Resin-Immobilized Palladium Nanoparticle Catalysts for
Organic Reactions in Aqueous Media: Morphological Aspects
1
,
1
1
1
Piero Mastrorilli *, Maria M. Dell’Anna , Antonino Rizzuti , Matilda Mali ,
Mauro Zapparoli and Cristina Leonelli 3
2
1
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, del Territorio, Edile e di Chimica (DICATECh),
Politecnico di Bari, via Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy;
E-Mails: mariamichela.dellanna@poliba.it (M.M.D.A.); antonio.rizzuti@poliba.it (A.R.);
matilda.mali@poliba.it (M.M.)
2
Centro Interdipartimentale Grandi Strumenti (C.I.G.S.), Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia,
via Campi 213\A, Modena 41125, Italy; E-Mail: mauro.zapparoli@unimore.it
3
Dipartimento di Ingegneria “Enzo Ferrari”, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia,
via Pietro Vivarelli 10, Modena 41125, Italy; E-Mail: cristina.leonelli@unimore.it
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: p.mastrorilli@poliba.it;
Tel.: +39-80-596-3605; Fax: +39-80-596-3611.
Academic Editors: Nicola Cioffi, Antonio Monopoli and Massimo Innocenti
Received: 24 September 2015 / Accepted: 8 October 2015 / Published: 14 October 2015
Abstract: An insight into the nano- and micro-structural morphology of a polymer supported
Pd catalyst employed in different catalytic reactions under green conditions is reported.
The pre-catalyst was obtained by copolymerization of the metal-containing monomer
−
Pd(AAEMA)
2
[AAEMA = deprotonated form of 2-(acetoacetoxy) ethyl methacrylate] with
ethyl methacrylate as co-monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker.
This material was used in water for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of aryl bromides,
and for the reduction of nitroarenes and quinolines using NaBH
4
or H , as reductants.
2
TEM analyses showed that in all cases the pristine Pd(II) species were reduced in situ to
Pd(0), which formed metal nanoparticles (NPs, the real active species). The dependence of
their average size (2–10 nm) and morphology on different parameters (temperature, reducing
agent, presence of a phase transfer agent) is discussed. TEM and micro-IR analyses showed
that the polymeric support retained its porosity and stability for several catalytic cycles in all
reactions and Pd NPs did not aggregate after reuse. The metal nanoparticle distribution
throughout the polymer matrix after several recycles provided precious information about

Molecules 2015, 20
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the catalytic mechanism, which was truly heterogeneous in the hydrogenation reactions and
of the so-called “release and catch” type in the Suzuki coupling.
Keywords: polymer supported Pd nanoparticles; morphological analysis; TEM; micro-IR
spectroscopy; recyclable catalyst; quinoline transfer hydrogenation; water solvent; nitrobenzene
reduction; quinoline hydrogenation; Suzuki-Miyaura coupling
1
. Introduction
The value of nanoparticles (NPs) is one of the discoveries that has recently been developed to an
extent that scientists could have never imagined a century ago, also in the field of catalysis [1–4].
The main problem arising with the use of metal nanoparticles as catalysts is their tendency to form
agglomerates, which decreases their activity. To avoid aggregation, NPs are usually stabilized by
inorganic or polymeric supports. Several methods are used nowadays to prepare metallic NPs entrapped
in polymeric supports for use in gas sorption, separation, and heterogeneous catalysis [5]. Recently, it
has been proven that high thermal and chemical stability can be attained when the polymer frame is
made up of tunable building units with only covalent bonds [6–8]. Additionally, it has been reported that
to avoid nanoparticle aggregation as in chemical vapor deposition [9–12], solid grinding [13–17],
impregnation [18,19], and immobilization [20–23], the NP formation should occur concurrently with the
reticulation of polymer matrices [24,25]. An alternative way to prepare highly dispersed polymer
stabilized nanoparticles consists in the copolymerization of metal-containing monomers with suitable
co-monomers [26], followed by reduction of the supported metal. In this field, for example
Pomogailo et al. [27] carried out the thermal polymerization of Pd(H
presence of inorganic supports, such as SiO , Al , C, obtaining hybrid polymer inorganic composites.
Pd(II) was then reduced under H to give supported Pd NPs. In this procedure, the preparation of the
2
C = CHCONH
2
)(NO
3
2
) in the
2
2
O
3
2
suitable Pd organometallic monomer to be linked with co-monomer units is critical, and a second
reduction treatment was necessary. A reduced number of monomers could be easily bonded to Pd ion
ligands, but when the ligands themselves could reticulate in a stable polymer, the preparation of the Pd
NP catalyst was successful [28–32]. The convenience of NP formation concurrent with monomer
reticulation has undoubtedly important implications as far as the process sustainability is concerned; the
choice of cross-linking ligands is an additional step forward, but the lowest environmental impact in the
catalytic process can be reached when water substitutes for the organic solvent as reaction medium.
In fact, water has been recently viewed as an eco-friendly alternative to common organic solvents
because it is non-toxic, non-flammable, has a high heat capacity, is cheap and renewable. In some cases,
due to its high polarity, its acid-base properties and its hydrogen bonding ability, water may influence
the reactivity and the selectivity of certain catalytic systems. However, sometimes the use of neat water
depresses the catalytic efficiency, as it has been reported, for example, for Pd NPs stabilized by various
polymers, such as poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) [33–35], polystyrene-β-poly(sodium acrylate) [36] and
poly(N,N-dihexylcarbodiimide) [37] in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction. In many cases, the polymeric
support does not swell in water, thus hampering the migration of the reactants to the active sites.

Molecules 2015, 20
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Neverthless, a number of suitable polymeric matrices have been developed so far for C–C couplings [38],
also under green conditions [39].
In other cases (e.g., in the selective reduction of quinolines), the formation of hydrogen bonds
between the substrate and the water hydroxyl groups may inhibit the absorption of the reagent on the
surface of the catalyst, thus lowering its activity [40]. For this reason, despite the advantages of using
water as solvent, only a limited number of heterogeneous catalysts [41–44] have been employed for
promoting the hydrogenation reactions of quinolines in water.
The authors have already described a palladium based pre-catalyst for the Suzuki-Miyaura
cross-coupling [45] as well as for the reduction of nitroarenes [46] and quinolines [47,48] in water as
solvent. In order to obtain a material with a uniform distribution of the catalytically active sites, the
pre-catalyst was not synthetized by classical immobilization of palladium centres onto a prefabricated
support, but it was synthetised in a rather unconventional way, by co-polymerization of the metal-containing
−
monomer Pd(AAEMA)
2
[AAEMA = deprotonated form of 2-(acetoacetoxy)ethyl methacrylate] with a
suitable co-monomer (ethyl methacrylate) and cross-linker (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (Pd-pol
pre-catalyst, Scheme 1) [28,29]. Pd-pol was then reduced in situ under reaction conditions forming Pd NPs
(
the catalytically active species) immobilized and stabilized by the reticular and macro porous polymeric
support. It is known that the properties of the polymeric support playing a crucial role in catalysis are
the swelling capability, the porosity and a mild reticular structure [49]. Our Pd-pol swells in water and
in many organic solvents, is macroporous and is characterised by a rather low degree of cross-linking,
thus it was found active and recyclable for several palladium catalysed reactions [50–55] in conventional
organic solvents as well as in water [56].
In this work, the catalyst recovered after several cycles of the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling and of
the hydrogenation of organic substances carried out in water, was studied in depth from the morphological
point of view by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron diffraction and
micro-IR spectroscopy.
The structural and chemical properties of Pd-pol before and after its use in catalysis, that is before
and after Pd(II) reduction, were already addressed in our previous work [29] but a real-time monitoring
of the evolution of the Pd NPs during the reduction process was missing, and the effect of different
reducing agents (temperature, phenyl boronic acid, dihydrogen, NaBH ) was never explored. The in situ
4
investigation of Pd NP formation is of great interest because it is well-known that size and shape of metal
NPs depend on the kinetics of the nucleation and growth processes [57]. Hence, understanding the
phenomena behind NP formation is fundamental in order to tune the NP properties, and therefore their
catalytic performances [58].
In addition, our interest in investigating the re-used catalyst stemmed from the observation that the
catalyst stability still represents the weak point of the heterogeneous catalysis that demands the reuse of
the material even when reaction conditions are harsh.

Molecules 2015, 20
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Scheme 1. Synthesis of Pd-pol pre-catalyst.
2
2
2
. Results and Discussion
.1. Catalytic Efficiency and Re-Use
.1.1. Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling
Pd-pol was active, selective and recyclable in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of aryl bromides
and activated aryl chlorides in water at 100 °C in the presence of K CO [45]. Table 1 reports the catalytic
2
3
results obtained in the Suzuki coupling between 4-bromoacetophenone and phenyl boronic acid taken as
a model reaction. The use of a transfer phase additive, such as tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) [59]
accelerated the reaction (Table 1, entry 2) for two reasons: it facilitated the dissolution of the organic

Molecules 2015, 20
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reactants in the water phase and it permitted the formation of smaller size (more active) nanoparticles
see below).
(
Table 1. Suzuki reaction of 4-bromoacetophenone and phenylboronic acid in water under
air over five cycles a.
Cycle (% Yield)
Entry
Time
First
97
Second
94
Third
84
Fourth
82
Fifth
82
1
2 h
b
2
15 min
98
93
85
84
80
a: 4-bromoacetophenone (1.0 mmol), phenylboronic acid (1.5 mmol), base (2.0 mmol), H
b: in the presence of TBAB (1.0 mmol).
2
O (4.0 mL), T = 100 °C;
Investigations on the activity of the mother liquor collected during and after catalytic runs (the mother
liquor was catalytically active during the catalytic run, resulting inactive when collected after substrate
consumption), ICP analyses carried out on the mother liquors and on the supported catalyst during and
after the catalytic runs (Pd amount was negligible in the mother liquor recovered at end of reaction and
was always the same in Pd-pol recovered after each catalytic cycle) (see [45]) revealed that Pd-pol could
act as a “release and catch” catalytic system [60,61]. A “release and catch” catalytic system is prepared by
noncovalent immobilization of the catalytic moiety onto a suitable support, but differently from the usual
non-covalently supported catalyst, the catalytic moiety is released in solution during the course of the
reaction and it is recaptured at the end of the reaction. Such a “catalyst-sponge like” system (Scheme 2)
permits to combine the benefits of homogeneous (high catalytic activity) and heterogeneous catalysis (easy
separation and recycling).
Scheme 2. “Release and catch” mechanism for a Pd NPs based catalytic system.
2
.1.2. Hydrogenation and Transfer Hydrogenation of Organic Compounds
Differently from the case of Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, Pd-pol behaves as a truly heterogeneous
catalyst in nitroarene reduction in water (Table 2) [46], as well as in the selective hydrogenation of

Molecules 2015, 20
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quinolines in aqueous medium under 10 bar H
2
at 80 °C (Table 3) [47] or at 60 °C in the presence of
NaBH
4
[48] as hydrogen source (Table 4).
Table 2. Transfer hydrogenation of nitrobenzene over twelve cycles a.
Cycle
Yield (%)
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th
94 93 94 95 96 95 94 96
96
95
96
97
a: Substrate (1.0 mmol), H
2 4
O (5 mL), NaBH (10.0 mmol), Pd-pol (0.0175 mmol of Pd), room temperature, 2 h.
Table 3. Hydrogenation of 8-methylquinoline to 8-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline over
nine cycles a.
Cycle
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth
99 97 98 98
, 9 h.
Yield (%)
99
98
97
98
98
a: Substrate (1.0 mmol), H
O/CH
2
3
OH (4 mL/1 mL), Pd-pol (Pd: 0.5 mol %), 80 °C, 10 bar H
2
Table 4. Transfer hydrogenation of quinoline to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline over seven cycles a.
Cycle (% yield)
Cycle
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth Seventh
93 94
Yield (%)
94
94
95
92
91
a: Substrate (1.0 mmol), H
2 4
O (5 mL), NaBH (20.0 mmol), Pd-pol (Pd: 2.0 mol %), 60 °C, 9 h.
Interestingly, by carrying out the nitrobenzene hydrogenation using H
instead of NaBH , the reaction reached completion after 6 h in the first run and after 24 h in the second
run, revealing that Pd-pol catalytic system was more active and recyclable using NaBH
2
(1 atm) as reducing agent
4
4
.
In all reported reductions, the mother liquors hot filtered at 40% of substrate conversion were
catalytically inactive, and the supported catalyst recovered at the end of the first run and at 40% conversion,
respectively, contained the same amount of palladium as the pre-catalyst. The same palladium content
was also found in the catalyst recovered at the end of the last cycle of the reduction reaction. These
results rule out any possible contribution of homogeneous catalysis by leached palladium species and
demonstrate that the polymer matrix was able to retain all the Pd NPs.
In addition, the polymer matrix could be involved in the mechanism of the reduction. In fact, the
−
negative electrostatic charge on the surface of the support derived by the presence of AAEMA moieties
(
Scheme 1), could favor the heterolytic cleavage of H
2
(used as the reductant or formed in situ by NaBH )
4

Molecules 2015, 20
18667
+
−
(
Scheme 3), and the resulting H /H pair could preferentially transfer to the C = N or N = O polar bonds [62].
The heterolytic splitting of H (assisted by the basic support) has been substantiated in some heterogeneous
2
quinoline hydrogenation [63–65].
Scheme 3. Heterolytic hydrogen splitting and ionic hydrogenation of polar substrates by Pd
−
NPs on AAEMA supporting polymer matrix.
2
.2. Micro-IR Analysis
Numerous investigations concerning incorporation techniques of metal nanoparticles into the polymer
matrix have been published, demonstrating the stabilization of the metal nanoparticles encapsulated in
the polymer matrix [58,66–68]. The approach used for the preparation of Pd-pol [26], starting from a
polymerizable Pd(II) β-ketoesterate complex [29], is particularly interesting in catalysis applications due
to the attainment of an intimate contact of the components of the composite material.
Figure 1. Micro-IR spectra of Pd-pol before (red line) and after (green line) 7 cycles of a
NaBH reduction of quinoline.
4

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18668
Micro-IR spectroscopy analyses of the pristine Pd-pol and of the Pd-pol recovered after seven cycles
of a NaBH reduction of quinoline (under the reaction conditions reported in Table 4) were performed,
4
with the aim of gaining insight into the structural stability and the chemical modifications of the matrix
after a catalytic process. IR spectra recorded before and after duty (Figure 1) are nearly superimposable,
indicating that the polymer matrix backbone is stable. The disappearance of the weak β-ketoesterate
−1
−1
combination band signals (1602 cm and 1509 cm ) [28] on passing from the pristine to the used catalyst
is ascribable to the loss of metal coordination by the ligand, as a consequence of the reduction of the
palladium oxidation state from +2 to zero that triggers the formation of NPs. These NPs may be stabilized
by electro-static interactions with the oxygen atoms of the polymeric support [69].
2
.3. TEM Observations
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has opened up new possibilities to investigate the nanoscale
features of innovative catalysts with complex molecular structures via morphological and chemical
characterization. The technique can be used in the ex situ approach when the catalyst is separated from the
solution allowing a vast array of synthetic parameters to be varied without concern for the delicacies of
the TEM equipment. In this respect, careful catalyst separation from the reaction media whereby the
state of the nanoscopic features at the crystalline surface may be retained before transfer to the TEM can
be performed. This is crucial to prevent secondary processes caused by changing growth conditions upon
contact with air and extraction from the liquid media. TEM ex situ observations of nanoparticles in organic
support must be accompanied by an accurate sample thinning operation to prevent contamination,
deformation and particles release. When these requirements are accomplished, TEM gives a more direct
approach to determining distribution, growth and dissolution rates of metal NPs onto the catalyst surface
than the indirect reaction conversion rate or yield.
2
.3.1. Pristine Pd-Pol
The thermal co-polymerization of Pd(AAMA) resulted in the pre-catalyst (Scheme 1) characterized
2
by an atomic Pd(II) polymeric network. However, the formation of primary Pd NPs could also occur, albeit
in low extent, during the thermal decomposition of metal-containing precursors, in accordance with the
simulated process proposed by Rozenberg et al. [30].
TEM images of three different batches of Pd-pol pre-catalyst showing the morphological structure
are reported in Figure 2a–c. At high magnification, all pristine catalysts showed almost the same
microstructure consisting of a small number of round irregular polyhedral metallic Pd primary particles
of ca. 9 nm, gathered in small aggregates with a maximum diameter of 18–25 nm and embedded in the
polymeric matrix. This confirms the reproducibility of the pre-catalyst microstructure after preparation
by a thermal polymerization process. The elemental identity of the nanoparticles was determined by means
of Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) analyses. SAED
image apparently consists of a ring pattern due to the diffraction of the thin metallic Pd-crystallites.

Molecules 2015, 20
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Figure 2. (a–c) TEM bright field images of three different batches of the pristine catalyst slice
with PdNPs; (d) enlargement of a selected area of (a) accompanied by the corresponding
e) EDS spectrum and (f) SAED pattern.
(
Figure 3 shows a low enlargement TEM image of the pre-catalyst where a sponge-like nanostructure,
which is capable of assuring a good contact between the reactive solution and the catalytic centres, is
observed. As it will be discussed below, micro-IR and TEM analysis indicated that the structural and
chemical features were retained by the polymeric support also after several reaction cycles and no
heteroatoms deriving from the reaction substrates and/or products were detected in the porous
framework, accordingly to what observed in other preparations [5].
Figure 3. TEM bright field image of the pristine catalyst slice with Pd NPs describing the
sponge-like nanostructure of the polymer matrix.

Molecules 2015, 20
.3.2. Pd-Pol Catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling
Figure 4 shows TEM images of Pd-pol recovered after (a) 30 min of the first cycle (at 30% substrate
18670
2
conversion); (b) the first cycle (2 h) and (c) the fifth cycle of the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction
described in entry 1 of Table 1.
Figure 4. TEM bright field images of Pd-pol after (a) 30 min; (b) the first cycle; and (c) the
fifth cycle of the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction described in entry 1 of Table 1;
(
d) EDS specta of selected areas of (a).
TEM analyses ascertained the reduction of the Pd(II) pre-catalyst and the EDS spectra clearly indicated
the presence of Pd NPs (on copper grid) and allowed us to follow their morphology with reaction time.
Once more, no contamination from other elements was recorded. Pd reduction was both thermal (being
the reaction temperature 100 °C) [30] and chemical (being the excess of phenylboronic acid the reductant).
Figure 5 shows Pd NP size distributions in (a) pristine Pd-pol and in Pd-pol recovered after (b) 30 min;
(c) the first cycle and (d) the fifth cycle of the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction described in entry 1
of Table 1. Pd-pol recovered after 30 min reaction (at 30% substrate conversion) contained new Pd NPs
whose size ranged from 2 to 6 nm, thus being smaller than the Pd NPs already contained in the pristine
catalyst. The same Pd NP size distribution was observed at the end of the reaction (quantitative substrate
conversion). Comparing Figure 5c (first cycle) with Figure 5d (fifth cycle) shows that the mean Pd NPs
increase with the cycle, with diameters ranging from 2–6 nm to 4–10 nm, and the nanoparticle size
distribution becomes broader. Differently from what observed by Mallick et al. [70], no particle aggregation

Molecules 2015, 20
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was observed, indicating that the reaction temperature was not sufficient to allow atoms diffusion. The
nanostructure of the catalyst was substantially maintained during the re-cycles and the Pd NPs remained
embedded in the polymer bulk with a higher density of Pd NPs on the support surface, thus pointing to
a “release and catch” mechanistic pathway.
Figure 5. Pd NP size distributions in (a) pristine Pd-poland in Pd-polrecovered after (b) 30 min;
(
c) the first cycle and (d) the fifth cycle of the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction described
in entry 1 of Table 1.
The slight decrease in the catalytic activity of Pd-pol observed in the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction
after the second catalytic cycle (entry 1 of Table 1) can hence be influenced by the increase of the supported
nanoparticle sizes during catalysis which may either render the nanoparticles less prone to be leached out
in solution, or may result in the leaching of bigger, and therefore less active, nanoparticles.
Figure 6 shows TEM images indicating the snapshots of the PdNPs formation after (a) 5 min (at 30%
substrate conversion); (b) the first cycle and (c) the fifth cycle of the TBAB assisted Suzuki-Miyaura
cross-coupling reaction (conditions described in entry 2 of Table 1).
Both Pd-pol samples recovered after duty in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction carried out in the presence
and in the absence of TBAB, respectively, presented the same nanostructure. In particular, an increased
number of well distributed metal NPs with reduced aggregation during time and the catalytic cycles were
observed by TEM analyses. All particles had similar diameters indicating the same growth rate. Some
aggregation could be observed for a total number of few primary particles, being the aggregate diameter
lesser than 20 nm.

Molecules 2015, 20
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Figure 6. TEM bright field images of Pd-pol after (a) 5 min of the first cycle; (b) the first
cycle and (c) the fifth cycle of the TBAB assisted Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction
described in entry 2 of Table 1; (d) EDS spectra of selected areas of (c) (irregular contamination
of silica was observed in Spectrum 3).
Figure 7 shows Pd NP size distributions in (a) pristine Pd-pol and in Pd-pol recovered after
(
b) 5 min; (c) completion of the first cycle and (d) the fifth cycle of the TBAB assisted Suzuki-Miyaura
cross-coupling reaction described in entry 2 of Table 1. Pd NP sizes are smaller than the sizes of Pd NPs
formed during the cross-coupling reaction carried out in the absence of TBAB.
In particular, after the first TBAB-assisted reaction cycle, a local nucleation of the finer Pd NPs was
observed as two dimensional ranges of nanoparticles, the first one with a size distribution centered around
3
nm and the second one with a size distribution centered at 6 nm. The smaller size of Pd NPs obtained
in the presence of TBAB as phase transfer agent justified in part the higher catalytic activity of Pd-pol
with respect to the same reaction carried out in the absence of TBAB (Table 1). However, in the presence
of TBAB the “release and catch” process of Pd active species during catalysis occurred mainly for the
first part of the phenomenon, being the metal leaching not negligible as revealed by elemental analyses
results [45]. This could be due to the strong stabilization capacity of tetraalkylammonium salts towards
metal nanoparticles dispersed in solution. On the contrary, in the absence of TBAB, Pd NPs are less
prone to be leached out in solution and are more inclined to be re-captured at the end of reaction by the
polymer support, which acts as stabilizer. TEM images of the recovered catalyst confirm this hypothesis,

Molecules 2015, 20
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showing a higher density of Pd NPs on the surface respect to the inner part of the resin, thus revealing
that the Pd NPs re-capturing process by the polymer matrix occurs in the Suzuki reaction carried out in
water with (in less extent) and without TBAB.
Figure 7. Pd NPs size distributions in (a) pristine Pd-pol and in Pd-pol recovered after
(
b) 5 min; (c) the first cycle and (d) the fifth cycle of the TBAB assisted Suzuki-Miyaura
cross-coupling reaction described in entry 2 of Table 1.
2
.3.3. Pd-Pol Catalyst for Nitroarene Reduction with NaBH
4
and H
2
TEM images of Pd-pol (a) pristine; (b) after the first cycle and (c) after the twelfth cycle of nitrobenzene
reduction with NaBH are shown in Figure 8.
4
On passing from the pristine to the first cycle, the recovered Pd-pol showed both the previously
formed palladium nanoparticles and an increasing high number density of newly formed Pd NPs, now
ranging from 2 to 4 nm. As a consequence of such reactivity, Pd NPs showed a bimodal size distribution:
a first peak with a mean diameter centred at around 3 nm and the second one centred at ca. 10–12 nm
(
see Figure 9). Remarkably, in Pd-pol recovered after the twelfth run, the presence of large (10–12 nm
diameter) together with small (diameter equal to ca. 3 nm) palladium nanoparticles (Figure 9) did not
cause a significant decrease in the catalytic activity, because the smallest Pd NPs were still abundant.
High resolution (HR)TEM images showed lattice pattern with an interplanar spacing of 0.22 nm ascribable
to metallic Pd {1 1 1} plane [71] as depicted in Figure 8d,e, indicating the single crystallinity nature for
these Pd NPs. Attempts to obtain HRTEM images of Pd NP lattice pattern also in Pd-polsamples used
in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction were unsuccessful. The absence of the Pd NP crystallinity features of the
former Pd-pol samples might be ascribable to the presence of a thick layer of amorphous polymeric matrix.

Molecules 2015, 20
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Figure 8. TEM images of Pd-pol (a) pristine; (b) after the first cycle and (c) after the twelfth
cycle of nitrobenzene reduction with NaBH , described in Table 2; (d) HRTEM image of
b) and (e) HRTEM image of (c).
4
(
Figure 9. Pd NPs particle size distributionsof Pd-pol (a) before; (b) after the first cycle and
c) after the twelfth cycle of nitrobenzene reduction with NaBH
(
4
.
As expected, the formation of catalytically active Pd NPs was observed also when the catalyst was
employed for the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene in water under 1 atm H , instead of NaBH (Figure 10).
These nanoparticles, generated by hydrogen reduction, were bigger (6–10 nm diameter sizes) compared
to those formed using NaBH as reducing agent, and consisted of single crystallites with an interplanar
spacing of 0.22 nm ascribable again to Pd metallic {1 1 1} plane [71]. It is known that the nature of the
2
4
4

Molecules 2015, 20
18675
reducing agent can strongly influence the nanostructure and the size distribution of the formed metal
nanoclusters [71]. The different NPs size distributions observed in the two Pd-pol samples, the first one
reduced by NaBH
catalytic activities showed by the two resins (the former system being more active than the latter one).
NaBH acts as a reducing agent of the metal in a dual way, by providing hydrides and by generating
4
2
and the second one reduced by 1 atm H , were presumably responsible for the different
4
hydrogen gas. In fact, the hydrides from sodium borohydride can replace negatively charged ligands
bound to Pd(II) (in the present case: the β-ketoesterato moieties, Scheme 1), generating Pd-hydrides which,
upon H elimination, give the reduced metal.
2
Figure 10. (a,b) TEM images and (c) Pd NPs particle size distribution of Pd-pol used in the
nitrobenzene reduction under hydrogen at room temperature.
In addition, the H
small size metal nanoparticles. On the contrary, in the case of Pd-pol stirred under 1 atm H
occurs only by hydrogen gas, which has to be transported to the water phase and then by solid phase
diffusion to the Pd-pol structure. Since the metal reduction by H requires longer times than the analogous
, larger palladium crystallites are formed in the reactions carried out under
2
formed in situ in water (Scheme 4) can reduce Pd(II) to Pd(0) with formation of
2
, the reduction
2
process induced by NaBH
4
dihydrogen gas.
Scheme 4. Metal catalyzed production of H
2
by NaBH in water.
4

Molecules 2015, 20
.3.4. Pd-Pol Catalyst for Quinoline Reduction Using NaBH
18676
2
4
Pd-pol was also tested in the transfer hydrogenation of quinolines to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines.
Figure 11 shows TEM images of Pd-pol recovered after (a) the first and (b) the seventh cycle of the
quinoline reduction using NaBH in water. The number of primary particles in Pd-pol recovered after
4
the first cycle resulted higher compared to those observed in the pre-catalyst, and they remained
homogeneously distributed throughout the polymer indicating limited diffusion growth mechanism.
As occurred in the nitroarene reduction, the Pd NPs had a small average diameter ranging from 2 to 4 nm.
The Pd NPs were not grouped in clusters but were individually distributed. On passing from the first
(Figure 11a) to the seventh cycle (Figure 11b), the number of smallest size (2 nm) Pd NPs increased, the
nanostructure of the catalyst was substantially maintained during the subsequent cycles and the Pd NPs
remained embedded into the polymer bulk. The observation of a homogeneous dispersion of the metal
NPs onto the polymeric bulk rules out a “release and catch” process during catalysis.
Figure 11. TEM high enlargement images of Pd-pol after the (a) first and (b) seventh cycle
of the quinoline reduction using NaBH
of Pd-pol after the (c) first and (d) seventh cycle of the quinoline reduction using NaBH
0 °C in water (reaction conditions reported in Table 4).
4
at 60 °C in water. Pd NPs particle size distributions
4
at
6

Molecules 2015, 20
18677
Indeed, TEM results are consistent with a truly heterogeneous mechanism probably assisted by the
polymeric support, as depicted in Scheme 3. The clusters of primary nanoparticles did not grow in size,
indicating absence of particle mobility under reaction conditions. The Pd NPs supported onto Pd-pol
remained isolated from each other and they did not aggregate with recycling, although a limited amount
of them grew slightly. This explains why the catalytic activity of the supported catalyst recovered after
seven cycles was comparable to that of the catalyst reused after the first run.
In order to evaluate the influence of the substrate on the morphological nanostructure of the catalyst,
Pd-pol was subjected to the same reaction conditions reported in Table 3 using NaBH in the absence of the
4
substrate. The morphological features of Pd-pol recovered after this test were similar to those of Pd-pol
recovered after the first cycle using the substrate, as shown by the TEM image reported in Figure 12. This
indicates a negligible influence of the substrate on the morphological features of the polymer supported
Pd NPs.
Figure 12. TEM images of Pd-pol subjected to the same reaction conditions reported in
Table 3 using NaBH but without substrate.
4
3. Experimental Section
3.1. General Considerations
Tap water was deionized by ionic exchange resins (Millipore, Billerica, MA, USA) before use. All
other chemicals were purchased from commercial sources and used as received. Palladium content in
Pd-pol was assessed after sample mineralization by atomic absorption spectrometry using a PerkinElmer
3
110 instrument (Perkin-Elmer Corporation, Waltham, MA, USA). Reactions were monitored by GLC
or by GC-MS. GC-MS data (EI, 70 eV) were acquired on a HP 6890 instrument (Hewlett Packard,
Palo Alto, CA, USA) using a HP-5MS crosslinked 5% PH ME siloxane (30.0 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 mm)
capillary column coupled with a mass spectrometer HP 5973. GLC analysis of the products was performed
using a HP 6890 instrument equipped with a FID detector and a HP-1 (crosslinked methylsiloxane)
capillary column (60.0 m × 0.25 mm × 1.0 μm). Pd(AAEMA) and the supported catalyst (Pd-pol) were
2
prepared as reported in [55]. The procedure adopted for the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction catalyzed by Pd-pol
is reported in [45]. The reductions of nitrobenzene were carried out as reported in [46]. The quinoline
reduction using NaBH was carried out as reported in [4].
4

Molecules 2015, 20
.2. Morphological Analyses
18678
3
Pd-pol was recovered after duty by filtration (in the case of Suzuki-Miyaura reaction) or by centrifugation
in all other cases). The isolated catalyst was then repeatedly washed with water, acetone, and diethyl
(
ether and dryed under high vacuum.
The microstructure of the polymeric matrix embedded NPs was determined by TEM observations at
acceleration voltage of 200 kV (Model JEM 2010, Jeol, Akishima, Tokyo, Japan), equipped with X-ray
energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS, Plano, TX, USA). The samples were prepared by dispersing the
powders in distilled water using an ultrasonic stirrer and then placing a drop of suspension on a copper
grid covered with a transparent polymer film, followed by drying and carbon coating. The particle size
distributions were obtained by TEM image analysis using the ImageJ software [72]. Each morphology
observation was accompanied by EDS analyses that confirmed the presence of Pd. Micro-FTIR spectra
(neat) were recorded using a PerkinElmer Spectrum 2000 instrument.
4
. Conclusions
A morphological study on Pd NPs supported onto a polymer matrix (Pd-pol) was carried out by TEM,
EDS and micro-IR techniques. These analyses were performed on such material before, during and
after its exposure to prolonged catalytic runs under green conditions in water solvent in the following
organic reactions: the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling between aryl bromides and phenylboronic acid and the
hydrogenation of nitroarenes and quinolines, using dihydrogen or NaBH , as reducing agent. This study
4
shed light into morphological features of both metal NPs and polymeric insoluble support. Micro-IR
analyses revealed that the support was chemically stable over the recycles of the catalyst in all the
reactions tested, while TEM techniques showed that the macroporosity of the resin remained constant
after each run (with good swelling in water), an important requirement for insoluble catalytic materials
capable of facilitating the migration of reactants towards active sites.
Moreover, TEM analyses showed that in all cases the pristine Pd(II) polymer supported complex (the
pre-catalyst) was reduced in situ to Pd(0) forming nanoparticles (the real active species) under the reaction
conditions. The organic polymer was always able to stabilize Pd NPs during recycling, since metal NPs
agglomeration detected by TEM analysis was always negligible. In all cases, after several re-uses (ranging
from 5 to 12, depending on the reaction) the amount (as a percent) of the smallest Pd NPs (2–8 nm diameter)
still remained high, while the presence of larger NPs (10–15 nm diameter) might indicate growth
(
no agglomeration) of the smallest Pd NPs with recycling. However, the level of NP growth that we did
observe with reuse was not enough to cause a significant decrease of the catalytic activity.
The Pd NPs’ average size and morphology was affected by several parameters, such as: temperature,
presence of a tetralkylammonium salt, and reducing agent. High temperatures (80–100 °C) favoured the
thermal reduction of Pd(II) with formation of NPs of 9 nm average size, while at room temperature a
greater amount of smaller NPs (2–6 nm diameter) was observed.
The presence of a phase transfer agent (tetrabutylammonium bromide) caused the formation of
smaller size Pd NPs (4 nm average size) and metal leaching into solution, due to its well-known metal
NPs stabilizing capacity.

Molecules 2015, 20
18679
TEM observations allowed us to deduce the following considerations about the effect of the reducing
agent on size and morphology of Pd NPs. In the case of the Suzuki coupling, the effect of the reductant
(
excess phenylboronic acid) was masked by the temperature reaction (100 °C) and/or by the presence of
tetrabutylammonium bromide (when used). On the contrary, for the reduction of nitroarenes and quinolines
in water the choice of the reductant (H or NaBH ) was crucial for Pd NPs diameter size (and activity),
2
4
ranging from 6 to 10 nm under 1 atm dihydrogen and from 2 to 4 nm, in the presence of NaBH
4
, because
the latter caused the reduction of Pd(II) in a more effective way.
Finally, morphological features of the supported catalyst could provide important information about the
mechanism involved in the catalytic cycle. The “release and catch” process of active species, commonly
invoked by the scientific community for the heterogeneously catalysed C–C bond forming reaction could
explain why TEM images of Pd-pol recovered after duty in the Suzuki reaction showed the majority of
Pd NPs onto the surface of the polymer. On the contrary, when Pd-pol was employed in the hydrogenation
under H
2
and in the NaBH transfer hydrogenation of nitroarenes and quinolines, TEM images showed
4
a uniform distribution of Pd NPs in the polymer matrix, pointing to a truly heterogeneous catalytic
mechanism, as confirmed by other techniques (hot filtration test, ICP analyses, etc.).
All these results offer interesting perspectives in catalysis, since it is well documented that the catalytic
activity of metal NPs depends on morphological features, on size control and size distribution. Finally,
the present work demonstrates that, when dealing with the characterization of polymer supported metal
NPs, a suitable combination of multiple complementary techniques may allow one to obtain a clear picture,
not only of the entire process that leads from the metal ion precursor to metal NPs, but also of the catalytic
cycle promoted by the metal NPs catalyst.
Acknowledgments
We thank Simona Intini, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, del Territorio, Edile e di
Chimica (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, for laboratory assistance and Italian Ministero dell’
Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca (MIUR) (project PRIN 2010–2011 n. 2010FPTBSH_001) for
financial support.
Author Contributions
Piero Mastrorilli and Cristina Leonelli: Responsibles for research publication. Maria Michela Dell’Anna
and Matilda Mali: Catalysis studies. Antonino Rizzuti: TEM and micro-IR discussion. Mauro Zapparoli:
TEM analyses.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Sample Availability: Samples of the pristine Pd-pol are available from the authors.
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2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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