Functionalization of fullerene (C60) with metformine to immobilized palladium as a novel heterogeneous and reusable nanocatalyst in the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction at room temperature

Pd supported on biguanide(metformine)-functionalized fullerene (C-60-Met/Pd2+) hybrid materials was fabricated for the first time. The catalyst prepared was characterized by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalyst showed excellent activity Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction of different aryl iodides and bromides with phenylboronic acid at room temperature in the EtOH:H2O (1:1) mixture as solvent. The yields of the products were in the range from 85% to 98%. The catalyst can be readily recovered and reused at least 6 consecutive cycles without significant loss in its catalytic activity. This is the new example for the development of fullerene (C-60-Met-Pd) complexes which can be used as efficient recyclable catalysts without palladium leaching. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.