Macroporous resin impregnated palladium nanoparticles: Catalyst for a microwave-assisted green Hiyama reaction

A non-functional macroporous commercial resin, Amberlite XAD-4, was impregnated with palladium nanoparticles of size 5-10 nm. The supported PdNPs, thus prepared, were used to catalyze the sodium hydroxide activated Hiyama cross-coupling reaction of phenyltrimethoxysilane with a variety of bromo and chloro arenes under microwave heating. They were found to have very high efficiency (TOF approximate to 3 x 10(4)) and excellent recyclability. The procedure, which was carried out in the absence of any additional ligands, surfactants or toxic organic solvents, can lead to the development of a sustainable and green protocol for the production of biaryls. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.