Facile preparation of Pd/BN nanocatalyst for Suzuki reaction: Synergistic boron nitride effect in a green solvent system

A straightforward and scalable in situ pyrolysis method was developed to synthesize palladium–boron nitride (Pd/BN) nanocatalysts using melamine, boric acid, and palladium acetate as precursors. The strong electronic interaction between Pd nanoparticles and the BN support facilitates charge transfer at the interface, thereby enhancing catalytic activity. The as-prepared Pd/BN catalyst exhibited excellent performance in Suzuki reactions under ambient conditions, achieving up to 99 % yield across a broad range of aryl bromides and boronic acids. The reaction was conducted in a green EtOH/H₂O (1:1) solvent system and required only a low Pd loading (0.25 mol%). In addition to its high efficiency, the catalyst demonstrated remarkable recyclability and retained activity over at least ten consecutive cycles with minimal deactivation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations, supported by experimental data, revealed that the Pd/BN interface lowers the energy barrier of the rate-determining transmetalation step, thus accelerating the overall reaction. This study not only provides a sustainable catalytic system for efficient C–C bond formation under mild and environmentally benign conditions but also offers valuable insights into the rational design of electron-rich heterogeneous catalysts through metal–support interaction engineering.