Palladium nanoparticles embedded in metal-organic framework derived porous carbon: synthesis and application for efficient Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions

A nanoporous carbon (NPC) material was prepared by one-step direct carbonization of a metal-organic framework, MOF-5, without additional carbon precursors. Pd nanoparticles were immobilized on the MOF-5-derived NPC by an impregnation method coupled with subsequent reduction with NaBH4. The prepared catalyst was in-depth characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and N-2 adsorption. The catalyst was used to catalyze the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions and exhibited high catalytic efficiency with yields ranging from 90% to 99% undermild conditions. The results demonstrated the great application potential of MOF precursor-based metal nanoparticle composites in catalysis.