Bifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles as cooperative catalysts for the Tsuji-Trost reaction--tuning the reactivity of silica nanoparticles

Bifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) bearing Pd-complexes and additional basic sites were prepared and tested as cooperative active catalysts in the Tsuji-Trost allylation of ethyl acetoacetate. Functionalization of the MSNs was realized by postmodification using click-chemistry. The selectivity of mono versus double allylation was achieved by control of reaction temperature and the nature of the catalyst.