Synthesis of Pd@graphene oxide framework nanocatalyst with enhanced activity in Heck-Mizoroki cross-coupling reaction

A new method was developed for producing a catalyst involving a Pd nanoparticle (NP) embedded in a graphene oxide framework (Pd@GOF) with ordered macro- and mesoporous structures. First, 5,5 '-diamino-2,2 '-bipyridine was selected as cross-linking for covalent modification of GO nanosheets to prepare a three-dimensional (3D) framework with interlayer spaces in which well-dispersed and ultra-small Pd NPs in situ grew and embedded the framework. The synthesized nanopores 3D Pd@GOF can act as nanoreactors to help the reaction substrates thoroughly come into contact with the surface of Pd NPs, thereby exhibiting high activity toward the Heck reaction, rarely reported concerning Pd NPs supported on one-side functionalized graphene. The Pd@GOF catalyst can be used 10 times without any significant loss in the catalytic activity, confirming the long-term stability of this catalyst. Therefore, the covalently assembled GOF was proposed as a universal platform for hosting noble metal NPs to construct the desired metal@GOF nanocatalyst with improved activity and stability that can be used in a broad range of practical applications.