Guest uptake and heterogeneous catalysis of a porous Pd(II) N-heterocyclic carbene polymer

A porous imidazolium polymeric network was synthesized via alkylation of tetrakis-[4-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)phenyl]methane with 1,4-bis(bromomethyl)benzene. Its complexation with palladium yielded a Pd-NHC porous polymeric network, namely Pd-pNHC. Pd-pNHC showed selective uptake of CO2 over N-2 due to its polar surface. Pd-pNHC has a BET specific surface area of 308 m(2) g(-1) and a micropore volume of 0.190 cm(3) g(-1). Pd-pNHC showed ability to absorb both hydrophilic and aromatic guests (MeOH, EtOH and benzene). Pd(II) catalytically active centers within the porous polymeric network were readily accessible to substrates as demonstrated in Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions. High yields were achieved in the coupling reactions of various arylbromides under mild conditions. Additionally, Pd-pNHC catalyzed the reactions in a heterogeneous way and the catalyst could be used for at least ten times without loss of activity. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.