Polystyrene supported palladium nanoparticles catalyzed cinnamic acid synthesis using maleic anhydride as a substitute for acrylic acidElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c7cy01126a

Maleic anhydride was explored as a substitute for acrylic acid to synthesize cinnamic acids from aryl halides under heterogeneous palladium catalyzed conditions. The combined role of surface and impregnated catalyst together performed an upright engineering to hold in situ generated molecules on the surface and subsequently facilitate their interaction for the desired product synthesis. Overall, a surface mediated approach for cinnamic acid synthesis from maleic anhydride following a major unexplored pathway through catalyst promoted decarboxylation was critically investigated. Maleic anhydride as a substitute for acrylic acid for cinnamic acid synthesis was explored elaborating the combined role of the support and the catalyst.