Synthesis of palladium nanocatalysts with cucurbit[n]uril as both a protecting agent and a support for Suzuki and Heck reactions

Pd nanocatalysts based on cucurbit[n]uril were successfully synthesized by an operationally simple one-pot liquid-phase method using different reducing agents. Through changing the reducing agents and the ratio of feedstock, well-defined Pd nanostructures with various shapes were obtained. The results of morphological analysis demonstrate that cucurbit[6] uril plays a key role in guiding the formation of Pd nanostructures, and is responsible for the Suzuki and Heck coupling reactions with high efficiency.