Superparamagnetic polymer composite microspheres supported Schiff base palladium complex: An efficient and reusable catalyst for the Suzuki coupling reactions

•Fe3O4/P(GMA-AA-MMA) has been prepared successfully by soap free emulsion.•Fe3O4/P(GMA-AA-MMA) was used to support Schiff base palladium complex.•The novel catalyst exhibited efficient catalytic activity in the Suzuki reactions.•The magnetic catalyst could be recovered by applying a permanent magnet quickly.•The catalyst can be reused at least 7 times without obvious change in the activity.

Superparamagnetic polymer composite microspheres Fe3O4/P(GMA-AA-MMA) prepared by soap free emulsion polymerization were used to support Schiff base palladium complex. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray photoelectronic spectrography (XPS) and thermal gravity (TG) studies have been used to characterize the supported magnetic Schiff base catalyst. The magnetic catalyst could provide excellent reactivity in the Suzuki coupling reactions of aryl halides with phenylboronic acids under mild condition. Meanwhile, the supported magnetic catalyst acted as a true heterogeneous catalyst in the Suzuki coupling reactions. Furthermore, the novel catalyst could be conveniently recovered by an external magnet and reused at least seven times without significant loss of its catalytic activity or Pd leaching.

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