Polyurea-encapsulated palladium catalyst

Polyurea-encapsulated palladium catalysts promote the phosphine-free Mizoroki-Heck reaction, which results in a high yield of cinnamates 46 (Scheme 86). The catalyst, which is easily recovered by filtration, is also applicable to the Suzuki-Miyaura and Stifle coupling reactions. 

Ley SV, Ramarao C, Gordon RS, Holmes AB, Morrison AJ, McConvey IF, Shirley IM, Smith SC, Smith MD. Polyurea-encapsulated palladium(II) acetate a robust and recyclable catalyst for use in conventional and supercritical media. Chem Commun 2002 1134-1135. 

Palladium(II) acetate micro-encapsulated in polyurea is an economical and versatile heterogeneous catalyst for a range of phosphine-free cross-coupling reactions in both conventional solvents and supercritical carbon dioxide. The catalyst can be recovered by simple filtration and recycled up to four times [93]. The potential of these materials has been demonstrated by their efficacy in Suzuld-type couplings. Investigations have centered upon carbonylation reactions to prepare aryl esters from commercially available aryl iodides. Treatment of iodo-methyl benzene tvith 3 mol% of catalyst in butanol and triethylamine at 90 °C under an atmosphere of carbon monoxide afforded butyl-methyl benzoate in an excellent yield of 89% in 16 h. 

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