Palladium cluster aggregation

Catalyst deactivation in Heck reaction is considered as a result of palladium cluster aggregation with subsequent precipitation as palladium black. Besides formation of Pd (0), other palladium species can be present in the reaction media, all contributing to catalyst deactivation. An approach proposed by Rothenberg et al. [7] suggests that all palladium species deactivate via a first-order process with a single deactivation constant. 

In contrast to the usual Wacker-conditions, optimum rates and catalyst stability in the Pd/batophenanthroHne-catalyzed olefin oxidations was observed in the presence of NaOAc (pH s 11.5). Under such conditions, the catalyst-containing aqueous phase could be recycled with about 2-3 % loss of activity in each cycle. In the absence of NaOAc precipitation ofPd-black was observed after the second and third cycles. Nevertheless, kinetic data refer to the role of a hidroxo-bridged dimer (Scheme 8.1) rather than the so-called giant palladium clusters which could easily aggregate to metallic palladium. 

Other suitable reaction solvents are aqueous tetrahydrofiiran, 1,2-diraethoxyethane or acetonitrile [28]. The same result was obtained by the method G, whereas 4-nitro-chlorobenzene was also coupled, in almost quantitative yield, within 2 h at 100 °C, or 87 h at room temperature. However, in the presence of tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (5 mol%), a soluble source of bromide anions, the SM reactions of aryl bromides have been effected in ethanol at room temperature in the presence of palladium(II) acetate or chloride (2 mol%) and potassium phosphate (2 eq.) as the base, even under exposure to air [55]. Palladium salts are reduced in situ with arylboronic acids to form catalytically active nano-sized palladium clusters (2-5 nm). The latter are stabilized by adsorbtion of one-layer bromide ions at the surface of each palladium-particle. Otherwise, the unstable nano-sized palladium-clusters are aggregated to the micro-sized catalytically inactive palladium black. In this manner, 2-bromonaphthalene (268) was reacted with 2-methoxyphenylboronic acid (269) to fiimish the biaryl 270 in 98% yield [55], respectively. Scheme 17. 

Baetzold used extended Hiickel and complete neglect of differential overlap (CNDO) procedures for computing electronic properties of Pd clusters (102, 103). It appeared that Pd aggregates up to 10 atoms have electronic properties that are different than those of bulk palladium. d-Holes are present in small-size clusters such as Pd2 (atomic configuration 4dw) because the diffuse s atomic orbitals overlap strongly and form a low-energy symmetric orbital. In consequence, electrons occupy this molecular orbital, leaving a vacant d orbital. For a catalytic chemist the most important aspect of these theoretical studies is that the electron affinity calculated for a 10-atom Pd cluster is 8.1 eV. This value, compared to the experimental work function of bulk Pd (4.5 eV), means that small Pd clusters would be better than bulk metal as electron acceptors. 

Extended X-ray absorption fine stmcture (EXAFS) analysis has been employed recently for the investigation of the role of colloids in catalysis. For Heck reactions with Herrmarm s paUadacycle or with [Pd(OAc)2]/P(tert-Bu)3, no indication of formation of coUoidal palladium was found [44]. By contrast, Koningsberger and co-workers found that in aUyHc amination with allylpalladium complexes with bidentate phosphine Hgands, from the early stages of the reaction onward, deactivation occurs by formation of di- and trinuclear clusters, which aggregate to larger clusters and finally to palladium black [45]. 

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