Functionalization of fullerene (C60) with metformine to immobilized palladium as a novel heterogeneous and reusable nanocatalyst in the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction at room temperature

•A Pd supported on biguanide(metformine)-functionalized fullerene(C60-Met/Pd2+) hybrid materials were synthesized.•Coordination of Pd(II) ions on metformine-grafted-fullerene.•C60-Met/Pd2+catalyzes Suzuki–Miyaura reaction in aqueous media and room temperature.•Catalysts have excellent stability and recyclability.

Pd supported on biguanide(metformine)-functionalized fullerene (C60-Met/Pd2+) hybrid materials was fabricated for the first time. The catalyst prepared was characterized by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalyst showed excellent activity Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction of different aryl iodides and bromides with phenylboronic acid at room temperature in the EtOH:H2O (1:1) mixture as solvent. The yields of the products were in the range from 85% to 98%. The catalyst can be readily recovered and reused at least 6 consecutive cycles without significant loss in its catalytic activity. This is the new example for the development of fullerene (C60-Met-Pd) complexes which can be used as efficient recyclable catalysts without palladium leaching.

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