Cationic hydrogel and graphene oxide based cationic hydrogel with embedded palladium nanoparticles in the aerobic oxidation of olefins

Poly(3-acrylamidopropyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride, p(APMACl), has been synthesized from (3-acrylamidopropyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride, (APTMACl), via free radical polymerization reaction technique under mild conditions. In addition, in the presence of cationic monomer APTMACl, graphene oxide (GO) forms supramolecular stable hydrogel, p(APTMACl)/GO. P(APTMACl) and p(APTMACL)/GO have been successfully utilized for the in situ synthesis and stabilization of Pd nanoparticles within the hydrogel matrix. These hydrogel composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AA). The morphology of the p(APTMACl) reveals the formation of homogeneous and highly porous material. Catalytic activity of p(APTMACl)-Pd and p(APTMACL)/GO-Pd catalysts were investigated in the aerobic oxidation of olefins by emphasizing the effects of different parameters such as temperature, substituent effect, etc. Under similar experimental conditions, catalyst p(APTMACl)/GO-Pd resulted in higher oxidation conversion than p(APTMACl)-Pd. The catalyst was easily recovered from the reaction medium and it could be re-used for other three runs without significant loss of activity.