Novel Pd Nanocubes Supported on Activated Carbon as a Catalyst for theSuzuki-Miyaura Coupling Reaction

Palladium nanocubes with diameters of 6~10 nm have been successfully synthesized by a simple reduction route with the assistance of PVP as stabilizing agent and KBr as a capping agent. The palladium nanocubes supported on activated carbon (Pd/C) were prepared by a physical absorption method. The-prepared Pd/C catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy technology (TEM), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results demonstrated that the palladium nano particles with the face- centered-cubic structure were uniformly supported on the activated carbon. It was shown from experimental results that the product yield for the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction between aryl bromides with aryl boronic acid attains more than 90% and has no significant loss of catalytic activity after five reaction cycles.