Minimalization of Metallic Pd Formation in Suzuki Reaction with a Solid-State Organometallic Catalyst

Suzuki reaction usually uses palladium (Pd) complexes to accommodate a wide range of substrates. In pursuing greener synthesis, immobilization of Pd complexes with various support materials has shown promising potential. Although this approach can give stable conversion, initially immobilized Pd ions are largely reduced to Pd0 aggregates and turned essentially into supported nanoparticles after use, which departs from its original intention of complex immobilization and thus hampers its activity. Herein, we immobilize noble metal ions into a spherical thiolated organosilica. This new type of catalysts can catalyze Suzuki reaction homogeneously via leaching out Pd ions and shuttling them back after the reaction. The excellent reusability attained can be attributed to minimalization of forming metallic palladium. Thus, the developed catalysts can be viewed as a two-way device to release and to restore metal ions for homogeneous catalysis.