Preparation, optical properties and catalytic activity of TiO2@Pd nanoparticles as heterogeneous and reusable catalysts for ligand-free Heck coupling reaction

•Preparation of TiO2@Pd nanoparticles as reusable catalysts.•The optical properties of the catalyst were studied using Mie theory.•Heck coupling reaction under ligand-free conditions.

This paper reports the synthesis and use of TiO2@Pd nanoparticles, as reusable catalysts for Heck coupling reaction under ligand-free conditions. This method has the advantages of high yields, elimination of ligand and homogeneous catalysts, simple methodology and easy work up. Interestingly, the novel catalyst could be recovered in a facile manner from the reaction mixture and recycled several times without any significant loss in activity. The catalyst was characterized by SEM, EDS and UV–vis spectroscopy. Experimental absorbance spectra compared with results from the Mie theory.

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