Cu(OAc)2 entrapped on ethylene glycol-modified melamine–formaldehyde polymer as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions

This work is described as an environmental friendly approach for Cu(OAc) 2 entrapped on ethylene glycol-modified melamine–formaldehyde-based polymeric material (Cu@MCOP) which has been successfully synthesized by simple approaches using commercially available starting materials via solvothermal techniques and without using any toxic reagents and chemicals. The structural, morphological, physicochemical characteristics and catalytic activity of the heterogeneous catalyst (Cu@MCOP) were analyzed by various instrumental methods including powder X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, UV-DRS, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, SEM and elemental mapping which have been used to authenticate the polymeric materials Cu@MCOP. The catalytic performance of Cu@MCOP as solid heterogeneous catalyst was evaluated in synthesis of various biphenyl derivatives through Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of various aryl halides with substituted organoboranes under normal reaction conditions. Furthermore, the copper catalyst was easily available, low cost, cheap and best instead of palladium, which shows good catalytic activity and excellent yield (up to 86%); the catalyst can be separated easily and recycled for more than five times. Graphic abstract