Pd nanoparticles at N-heterocyclic carbene at ZIF-8 as an ultrafine, robust and sustainable heterogeneous system for Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling processes

Abstract

Producing nanoparticles with controlled size without any aggregation is an important challenge for enhancing the catalytic activities of the metal nanoparticles (MNPs) supported on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). In this work, a new hybrid nanoporous material, Pd nanoparticles at N-heterocyclic carbene at zeolitic imidazolate framework (Pd NPs at NHC at ZIF-8), with a high internal surface area was successfully prepared by immobilizing anionic sulfonated N-heterocyclic carbene–palladium(II) precursor inside the cavities of ZIF-8 using “impregnation approach” followed by reduction with Sodium borohydride (NaBH4). The as-prepared new Pd NPs at NHC at ZIF-8 composite proved to be highly active and showed excellent stability as a heterogeneous catalyst for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction.