# Application of palladium nanoparticles supported on ordered mesoporous oxides for C–N and C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C coupling reactions in water

**Authors:** Nomathamsanqa Prudence Maqunga, Matumuene Joe Ndolomingo, Ndzondelelo Bingwa, Reinout Meijboom

PMC · DOI: 10.1039/d5ra02824h · 2025-07-29

## TL;DR

This paper presents a new method to create stable and reusable palladium nanocatalysts for chemical reactions in water.

## Contribution

A sol–gel method was developed to synthesize mesoporous oxides with dispersed palladium nanoparticles for efficient coupling reactions.

## Key findings

- Palladium nanoparticles on mesoporous oxides effectively catalyzed C–N and C≡C coupling reactions in water.
- The catalysts showed high efficiency and minimal loss during diaryl alkyne production.
- Buchwald–Hartwig amination achieved high selectivity and yield with the developed catalysts.

## Abstract

This study sought to synthesize supported palladium nanocatalysts that are, in general, convenient to synthesize, suitable for mild conditions, recyclable, and stable in water. The sol–gel procedure was successfully extended to synthesize mesoporous metal oxides with well-dispersed palladium nanoparticles. The resulting catalysts were extensively characterized using techniques such as TEM, powder XRD, SEM-EDX, thermogravimetric analysis, and BET surface area measurements. The catalytic activity of the prepared heterogeneous palladium nanoparticles supported on mesoporous oxides was investigated in terms of C–N and CC coupling reactions, yielding products of alkynes and N-arylamines. Specifically, alkynes were effectively cross-coupled with various aryl iodides and aryl bromides, yielding diaryl alkynes with high efficiency and minimal catalyst loss. Similarly, the Buchwald–Hartwig amination reaction produced its desired products with high selectivity and yield.

This study sought to synthesize supported palladium nanocatalysts that are, in general, convenient to synthesize, suitable for mild conditions, recyclable, and stable in water.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** palladium (PubChem CID 23938)

## Full-text entities

- **Chemicals:** C (MESH:D002244), N-arylamines (-), palladium (MESH:D010165), oxides (MESH:D010087), alkynes (MESH:D000480), water (MESH:D014867)

## Figures

8 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12305527/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12305527