Pd nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide as an effective and reusable heterogeneous catalyst for the Mizoroki-Heck coupling reaction

A general method for the synthesis of palladium nanoparticles loaded on reduced graphene oxide functionalized with diethylenetriamine (PdNPs/rGO-NH2) using a sonochemical procedure is described. The heterogeneous nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, thermogravimetric analysis, high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-visible absorption, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The PdNPs/rGO-NH2 was very effective for the Mizoroki-Heck coupling reaction of several aryl iodide compounds with different alkenes in the presence of triethylamine. The reaction provides the coupling products in good to excellent yields (59-100%). Additionally, the PdNPs/rGO-NH2 catalyst can be reutilized for six successive runs without any apparent diminution of its catalytic reactivity.