Sulphonated click dendrimer-stabilized palladium nanoparticles as highly efficient catalysts for olefin hydrogenation and Suzuki coupling reactions under ambient conditions in aqueous media

Water-soluble 1,2,3-triazolyl dendrimers were synthesized by click chemistry and used to stabilize palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs). These new click dendrimer-stabilized nanoparticles (DSN) are highly stable to air and moisture and are catalytically active for olefin hydrogenation and Suzuki coupling reaction, in aqueous media, under ambient conditions using a low amount of palladium (0.01 mol% Pd). Kinetic studies show high catalytic efficiency and high stability for the new click DSN in both reactions. The complexation of potassium tetrachloropalladate (K2PdCl4) to the triazole ligands present in the dendritic structures was monitored by UV/vis and, after reduction, the nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).