Encapsulation of Pd(II) into superparamagnetic nanoparticles grafted with EDTA and their catalytic activity towards reduction of nitroarenes and Suzuki-Miyaura coupling

A robust, safe and magnetically recoverable palladium catalyst was synthesized by anchoring Pd(II) onto ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-coated Fe3O4 (Fe3O4@EDTA) magnetic nanoparticles. The Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle-supported Pd(II)-EDTA complex catalyst thus obtained was characterized using scanning and transmission electron microscopies, thermogravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometry, X-ray diffraction, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies. Fe3O4@EDTA-Pd(II) was screened for the Suzuki reaction and reduction of nitro compounds in water. The Pd content of the catalyst was measured to be 0.28 mmol Pd g(-1). In addition, the Fe3O4@EDTA-Pd catalyst can be easily separated and recovered with an external permanent magnet. The anchored solid catalyst can be recycled efficiently and reused five times with only a very slight loss of catalytic activity. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.