Phosphine-free polystyrene-supported palladium(II) complex as an efficient catalyst for the Heck and Suzuki coupling reactions in water

A palladium complex, 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione-2-oxime thiosemi-carbazone-functionalized polystyrene resin supported Pd(II), is found to be a highly active catalyst for the Heck reaction of methyl acrylate with aryl halides and Suzuki reaction of phenylboronic acid with aryl iodides and bromides, giving excellent yields. The reactions were performed under phosphine-free conditions in an air atmosphere. The palladium catalyst is easily separated, and can be reused for several times without a significant loss in its catalytic activity.