N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium derivatives as protective agents for Pd(0) nanocolloids and catalytic investigation in Suzuki reactions in aqueous media

Aqueous colloidal suspensions of Pd(0) were easily prepared by chemical reduction and efficiently stabilized by highly water-soluble N,N-dimethyl-N-alkyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium halide salts (HEAnX, n = 16 or 18, X = Cl or Br). These Pd(0) colloids have been investigated in biphasic catalytic Suzuki reactions under mild conditions. After optimization of catalytic system and reaction conditions. high isolated yields in biphenyl have been obtained showing catalytic potentialities of this approach. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.