Homogeneous catalysts, Suzuki coupling reactions

In addition to recent work on the development of new homogenous catalysts, several groups have also explored the utility of heterogeneous catalyst systems for Suzuki coupling reactions. In some instances these catalysts can be recovered and reused after catalytic reactions. However, in many cases the use of added phosphine ligands is required, and it is not clear... 

Stevens, P.D., Li, G.F., Fan, J.D., Yen, M. and Gao, Y. (2005) Recycling of homogeneous Pd catalysts using superparamagnetic nanoparticles as novel soluble supports for Suzuki, Heck, and Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions. Chemical Communications (35), 4435-4437. 

The first studies that intentionally used colloidal nanocatalysts were reported independently by Beller et al. [50] and Reetz et al. [51] using chemical reduction and electrochemical techniques, respectively, to synthesize colloidal palladium nanoparticles for the Heck reaction. Both Beller and Reetz concluded that the solution-phase catalysis occurred on the surface of the nanoparticle, without confirming that a homogeneous catalytic pathway was nonexistent. Le Bars et al. [52] demonstrated an inverse relationship between the size of Pd nanoparticles and the TOF (normalized to the total number of surface atoms) for the Heck reaction (Fig. 18.4a). After normalizing the rate to the density of defect sites (for each nanoparticle size) (Fig. 18.4b), the TOF for all particle sizes was identical. Colloidal PVP-capped palladium nanoparticles synthesized by ethanol reduction are effective catalysts for Suzuki cross-coupling reactions in aqueous solution [53]. The El-Sayed group reported that the initial rate of reaction increased linearly with the concentration of Pd nanoparticles [53] and the catalytic activity was inversely proportional to the... 

At the opposite of the molecular chemistry described until now, nanoparticles are reminiscent of heterogeneous catalysts. However, these colloid-derived materials have been shown to catalyze efficiently in water coupling reactions which have been previously described in pure homogeneous systems. For instance, poly(N-vi-nyl-2-pyrrolidine)-stabilized palladium nanopartides promote the Suzuki crosscoupling in aqueous media with high yields (see also Section 6.6) [87]. 

The suitability of the homogeneous aqueous catalysts and thus the scope of application in general will be extended in commercial or pilot-plant operation to other central atoms and reactions such as Heck reactions and other carbonylations (with Pd), hydrogenations (Pd, Pt, Rh, Ir), formation of water-soluble polymers (Pd), vinylations, metathesis conversions (Ru), Suzuki couplings, etc. (cf. Section 6.6). 

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