Graphyne-like Porous Carbon-rich Network Supported Pd Nanoparticles as an Efficient Catalyst for Suzuki-Miyaura Couplings under Aerobic Conditions

Background: Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions are reliable and powerful methods to minimize their surface energy, especially during the catalytic reaction at high temperature. They could easily lead to deactivation or loss of the catalytic activity. Objective: To solve this problem, adopting new supporting substrate is a possible strategy especially for nanometer-sized catalysts. Methods: Here we focused upon the uses of oxides of a sp2- and sp hybridized graphyne-like porous carbon-rich network (GYLPCO) as the supporting materials because they have lower reduction potentials than Pd2+ ions and could enable electroless deposition of Pd in a technically simple way without the use of surfactants or extra reductants or catalysts, while maintaining high activity. Results: We demonstrate that GYLPCO can be used as an excellent substrate for electroless deposition of ultrafine Pd nanoparticles. The as-formed Pd/GYLPCO nanocomposite is found to be an excellent catalyst for highly efficient Suzuki–Miyaura couplings. Conclusion: The unique Pd/GYLPCO exhibits very high catalytic activity for a broad scope of Suzuki–Miyaura reactions in aqueous media under aerobic conditions with short reaction time and good yields. The strong interaction between Pd and GYLPCO carbon-carbon triple bonds prevents the agglomeration or leaching of Pd nanoparticles and enables the Pd/GYLPCO catalyst to remain highly active even after the catalyst is kept in air for a long time.