Immobilized Pd complexes over HMMS as catalysts for Heck cross-coupling and selective hydrogenation reactions

High-performance Pd(0) on the surface of hollow magnetic mesoporous spheres (HMMS), with Fe3O4 nanoparticles embedded in the mesoporous shell was prepared. The catalyst was characterized by TEM, XRD, VSM and ICP. It showed high activity for selective hydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes and the Heck coupling reaction. The catalyst could be recovered in a facile manner from the reaction mixture and recycled six times without loss in activity.