Applications of pore-expanded mesoporous silica 6. Novel synthesis of monodispersed supported palladium nanoparticles and their catalytic activity for Suzuki reaction

MCM-41 silica, whose pores have been expanded by post-synthesis treatment with N,NN,N-dimethyldecylamine, was used as an inexpensive high-surface area, large-pore support for rapid preparation of monodispersed palladium nanoparticles. The nanoparticles, initially prepared at room temperature, showed remarkable thermal stability as their size increased from 2.8±0.82.8±0.8 to only 3.4±0.8 nm3.4±0.8 nm after calcination at 500 °C in air followed by reduction in H2 at the same temperature. These materials were found to be highly active and stable catalysts for the Suzuki coupling reaction with virtually no leaching.