Versatile synthesis of polyaniline/Pd nanoparticles and catalytic application

Polyaniline/Pd nanoparticles were synthesized through two approaches. "Direct reduction approach" was revealed to be a simple method to prepare small (2-7nm) and dispersed polyaniline/Pd nanoparticles via reduction with sodium borohydride. On the other hand, "template approach" was developed to provide a versatile route to small and well-dispersed nanoparticles (1-4nm, average diameter=2.4 nm) with high Pd density due to pre-organization of Pd(ii) species on polyaniline into the corresponding d,pi-conjugated complex. Thus-obtained nanoparticles worked as an efficient redox catalyst for oxidative coupling reaction of 2,6-di-t-butylphenol.