Finely dispersed palladium on silk‐fibroin as an efficient and ligand‐free catalyst for Heck cross‐coupling reaction

Abstract

A palladium–fibroin complex (Pd/Fib.) was prepared by the addition of sonicated fibroin fiber in water to palladium acetate solution. Pd (OAc)2 was absorbed by fibroin and reduced with NaBH4 at room temperature to the Pd(0) nanoparticles. Powder‐X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy–energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform‐infrared, CHN elemental analysis and inductively coupled plasma‐atomic emission spectroscopy were carried out to characterize the Pd/Fib. catalyst. Catalytic activity of this finely dispersed palladium was examined in the Heck coupling reaction. The catalytic coupling of aryl halides (‐Cl, ‐Br, ‐I) and olefins led to the formation of the corresponding coupled products in moderate to high yields under air atmosphere. A variety of substrates, including electron‐rich and electron‐poor aryl halides, were converted smoothly to the targeted products in simple procedure. Heterogeneous supported Pd catalyst can be recycled and reused several times.