Palladium Supported on Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles as Efficient Heterogeneous Catalyst for Suzuki-Miyaura and Hiyama Reactions under Normal Laboratory Conditions

Nanoscale Pd supported on ZnO was prepared by a facile coprecipitation method. Pd/ZnO Nanoparticles were characterized by using XRD, TEM, SEM, XPS, BET specific surface area measurement, and thermogravimetric analysis. This catalyst was used as novel and excellent heterogeneous catalyst for ligand-free C-C bond-formation particularly in the synthesis of unsymmetrical biaryls by Suzuki-Miyaura and Hiyama cross-coupling reactions under air atmosphere without use of any Ar or N-2 flow. The catalyst can be recovered and recycled several times without marked loss of activity.