Direct Synthesis of Imidazolinium Salt on Magnetic Nanoparticles and Its Palladium Complex Application in the Heck Reaction

Abstract

Synthesis of magnetically separable imidazolinium salts (N-heterocyclic carbene precursor) from amine-terminated magnetic nanoparticles by a direct “grafting from” three-step approach was achieved. Purification after each step of the synthesis was easily performed using magnetic separation of products from the reaction mixtures. Next, the magnetic imidazolinium salts were used as ligands in transition-metal complexes. The catalytic properties of nanoparticles–Pd complexes in the Heck cross-coupling reaction were tested. In the majority of tested reactions, the catalyst allowed obtaining styrene derivatives in high yields. It was proven that the catalysts can be reused several times without loss of their activity.