Palladium nanoparticles stabilised by PTA derivatives in glycerol: Synthesis and catalysis in a green wet phase

• N-benzyl PTA derivatives as unprecedented stabilisers for palladium nanoparticles
• Synthesis of small and well-dispersed PTA-based Pd nanoparticles in neat glycerol
• Versatile Pd catalyst for CC coupling, hydrogenation and multi-step processes
• Suitable immobilisation and recycling of the glycerol-based catalytic phase

Palladium nanoparticles stabilised by N-substituted 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane ionic ligands were synthesised from Pd(II) precursors and characterised in neat glycerol, observing an important effect of the phosphine nature in the dispersion of the nanoclusters in solution. The most homogeneously dispersed nanoparticles (Pd1a) led to the best catalytic behaviour in the benchmark Suzuki–Miyaura reaction. From this screening, Pd1a was applied in different CC cross-couplings and hydrogenation reactions, isolating the expected products in high yields (> 90%). An efficient catalyst immobilisation in glycerol was attained (up to ten runs without any sign of activity loss).

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