Palladium complex embedded crosslinked polystyrene nanofibers as a green and efficient heterogeneous catalyst for coupling reactions

A simple and green chemical modification coupled with electrospinning technique has been developed to incorporate tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium [Pd(PPh3)(4)] inside crosslinked polystyrene nanofibers (Pd@CPS) as an efficient and stable heterogeneous palladium catalyst. The catalytic activities and recyclabilities of the prepared Pd@CPS catalyst have been evaluated by using Suzuki and Heck reactions of various aromatic halides separately with phenylboronic acid and alkenes. The Pd@CPS exhibited high-catalytic activities for the Suzuki and Heck reactions of aromatic iodides to afford the products in excellent yields (coupling yields >88%). The catalytic activities and the nanofiber structure remained essentially unchanged even after recycling for five times. The high activities and stabilities of the prepared Pd@CPS catalyst can be attributed to the ultrafine fiber and embedment of palladium active species inside the nanofibers.

Automated summary

A simple and green chemical modification method combined with electrospinning technique was used to incorporate palladium active species into crosslinked polystyrene nanofibers, resulting in an efficient and stable heterogeneous palladium catalyst (Pd@CPS). The Pd@CPS catalyst exhibited high catalytic activities and recyclabilities for Suzuki and Heck reactions of aromatic iodides, with coupling yields exceeding 88%. The ultrafine fiber structure and embedment of palladium active species inside the nanofibers contributed to the high activities and stabilities of the prepared Pd@CPS catalyst.