Precatalyst or dosing-device? The [Pd2{μ-(C6H4) PPh2}2{μ-O2C(C6H5)}2] complex anchored on a carboxypolystyrene polymer as an effective supplier of palladium catalytically active nanoparticles for the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction

A new catalyst has been synthesized from the precursor [Pd-2{mu-(C6H4) PPh2}(2) {mu-O2C(C6H5)}(2)] immobilized on a carboxypolystyrene polymer that exhibits an excellent dispersion of the Pd (II) centers, reusability, and catalytic activity in front of phenyl bromides. The activity of this new material was studied in detail for the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction and compared to that of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) supported on UVM-7 (a mesoporous silica), and Pd NPs stabilized with polyvinylpirrolydone. The homogeneous/heterogeneous character of the catalytic process was determined from the results of the hot-filtration, centrifugation, poisoning, three phases tests, and from differential sensitivity kinetic assays. Changes in the palladium oxidation state, and the size and morphology of the Pd NPs formed during several reusing catalytic cycles were determined by XPS, and by SEM and STEM-HAADF respectively. Kinetic and structural analyses concluded that the new material behaved as a supplier of active Pd(0) NPs to the Suzuki-Miyaura catalytic cycle, which was determined to be driven mainly by the palladium fraction present in solution. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.