Pd nanoparticle aging and its implications in the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction

Examination of the catalysts recovered in the N,N-dihexylcarbodiimide-palladium nanoparticle composite catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reactions revealed that the metal nanoparticles transformed gradually from spherical-shape to larger needle-shaped crystals. Two types of Ostwald ripening processes were observed. One involves rapid aggregation of the incipient nanoparticle catalyst (2-5 nm) into blackberry-like assemblies (100-200 nm), which is accompanied with the much slower dissolution of small crystals or amorphous nanoparticles and the formation of larger needle-shaped crystals. The observed structural changes provided new insights into the durability of the polymer nanoparticle composite catalyst.