Palladium Nanoparticles in Glycerol: A Versatile Catalytic System for C-X Bond Formation and Hydrogenation Processes

Palladium nanoparticles stabilised by tris(3-sulfophenyl)phosphine trisodium salt in neat glycerol have been synthesised and fully characterised, starting from both Pd(II) and Pd(0) species. The versatility of this innovative catalytic colloidal solution has been proved by its efficient application in CX bond formation processes (X=C, N, P, S) and CC multiple bond hydrogenation reactions. The catalytic glycerol phase could be recycled more than ten times, preserving its activity and selectivity. The scope of each of these processes has demonstrated the power of the as-prepared catalyst, isolating the corresponding expected products in yields higher than 90%. The dual catalytic behaviour of this glycerol phase, associated to the metallic nanocatalysts used in wet medium (molecular- and surface-like behaviour), has allowed attractive applications in one-pot multi-step transformations catalysed by palladium, such as CC coupling followed by hydrogenation, without isolation of intermediates using only one catalytic precursor.