Metal nanoparticles inside microgel/clay nanohybrids: Synthesis, characterization and catalytic efficiency in cross-coupling reactions

• Composite microgels containing nanoclay and metal nanoparticles have been prepared.
• Size control of the metal nanoparticles can be attained.
• Pd-containing microgels catalyze cross-coupling reactions in water-rich medium.

HypothesisLaponite nanoclay embedded inside soluble crosslinked copolymers (microgels) may act as cation exchanger allowing loading of the microgels with cationic metal precursors, which upon reduction yield tailored ternary colloidal nanocomposites comprising both nanoclay and metal nanoparticles.ExperimentsMicrogel nanohybrids with variable Laponite nanoclay content were loaded with cationic precursors of different noble metals (Pd, Pt, Au); subsequent reduction by several methods yielded ternary nanocomposites which were extensively characterized. Nanocomposites based on Pd were also tested as catalysts in standard Suzuki and Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions.FindingsThe proposed method for the production of ternary nanocomposite microgels has been validated. The factors influencing the final metal nanoparticle size (nature of the reducing agent, clay content in the microgel) have been determined and rationalized. The resulting Pd-containing ternary nanocomposite microgels are viable catalysts of standard cross coupling reactions in water-rich medium.

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