Dramatic Effect of the Gelling Cation on the Catalytic Performances of Alginate-Supported Palladium Nanoparticles for the Suzuki–Miyaura Reaction

This work describes the preparation and characterization of a library of alginate-supported palladium nanoparticles together with their catalytic capabilities to promote the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction. Using the chelating properties of the carboxylate functions of the alginate matrix a series of Ca, Ba, Mn, Zn, Ni, Ce, Cu, and Co alginate gels were first prepared and then reacted with Pd2+ salts. Partial exchange of metal cations followed by Pd reduction into palladium nanoparticles and supercritical CO2 drying generated a panel of bimetallic alginate aerogels. Physical characterizations of these materials showed a significant influence of both the gelling metal nature and the Pd loading on surface areas and nanoparticles size. A comparative study of the catalytic performances of these heterogeneous catalytic systems is then reported for the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction. This study highlighted the superior performances of palladium nanoparticles supported on copper-alginate aerogels. This heterogeneous catalyst showed high catalytic activities as illustrated by a TOF value of 10 s–1 and a TON value close to 106. The robustness of the catalyst allowed several reuses with no significant loss of activity or metal leaching.