Pd-Schiff base complex supported on Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles: A new and highly efficient reusable catalyst for C-C bond formation in water

A protocol is introduced for the preparation of a new cage-like Pd-Schiff base organometallic complex supported on Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@Schiff-base-Pd). The structure of the nanomagnetic catalyst was comprehensively characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy, X-ray mapping, thermogravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. In the second stage, the catalytic activity of this catalyst was studied in the Suzuki and Heck cross-coupling reactions in water as a green solvent. In this sense, simple preparation of the catalyst from commercially available materials, high catalytic activity, simple operation, short reaction times, high yields and use of green solvent are some advantages of this protocol. Finally, the nanocatalyst was easily recovered, using an external magnet, and reused several times without significant loss of its catalytic efficiency. In addition, the stability of the catalyst after recycling was confirmed using SEM, XRD and FT-IR techniques.