Palladium nanoparticles supported on graphene as catalysts for the dehydrogenative coupling of hydrosilanes and amines

Palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) were supported on undoped and N-or B-doped graphenes (Gs) and these materials have been used as catalysts for the dehydrogenative coupling of hydrosilanes and amines to form silazanes. Working under optimal conditions, a conversion over 99% and a selectivity of 84% were achieved for the reaction of dimethylphenylsilane with morpholine. In contrast, copper (Cu NPs) or nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) supported on G did not promote the formation of the corresponding Si-N coupling product. It was found that Pd/G performed better for this coupling than analogous catalysts, in which Pd NPs were supported on active carbon, multiwall carbon nanotubes or diamond NPs. Pd/G as a catalyst has a wide substrate scope, including aliphatic and aromatic amines and mono or dihydrosilanes. Pd/G undergoes a gradual deactivation due to the growth and partial agglomeration of Pd NPs and the aggregation of G sheets, as observed by TEM.Financial support by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Severo Ochoa and CTQ-2012-32315) and Generalitat Valenciana (Prometeo 13/14) is grateful acknowledged. Partial funding by the EU Commision through the FCHJU (BeingEnergy project) is also thanked. We also thank EU under the Being Energy contract for partial funding. J. F. B. thanks the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia for a postgraduate scholarship.Blandez Barradas, JF.; Esteve Adell, I.; Alvaro Rodríguez, MM.; García Gómez, H. (2015). Palladium nanoparticles supported on graphene as catalysts for the dehydrogenative coupling of hydrosilanes and amines. Catalysis Science and Technology. 5(4):2167-2173. doi:10.1039/c4cy01486cS216721735