Recyclable N-heterocyclic carbene/palladium catalyst on graphene oxide for the aqueous-phase Suzuki reaction

Graphene oxide (GO) was functionalized with a N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursor, 3-(3-aminopropy1)-1-methylimidazolium bromide ([APMIm][Br]) for the immobilization of palladium catalyst. The GO-supported NHC precursor (IMGO) formed a stable complex with Pd(OAc)(2) (GO-NHC-Pd), which showed excellent catalytic activity and fast reaction kinetics in the aqueous-phase Suzuki reaction of aryl bromides and chlorides at relatively mild conditions (1 h at 50 degrees C). The GO-NHC-Pd catalyst was reused several times without any loss of its catalytic activity in the Suzuki reaction of aryl bromide. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This work was supported by the research fund of Hanyang University (HY-2011-N)