Visible light-driven photocatalytic Heck reaction over carbon nanocoil supported Pd nanoparticles

Pd nanoparticles supported on carbon nanocoils (Pd/CNCs) show unexpectedly high photocatalytic activity for coupling reaction of aryl halides and alkenes (Heck reaction) at 40 degrees C. The energetic electrons in Pd nanoparticles, excited via interband transitions under visible light irradiation, can transfer to halogen atoms to facilitate the cleavage of carbon-halogen bonds in aryl halides, which requires rather high temperature in the thermal process. Then, the final products can be fast achieved by alkene insertion and beta-hydrogen elimination processes.