Hollow nanoreactors for Pd-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura coupling and O-propargyl cleavage reactions in bio-relevant aqueous media

We describe the fabrication of hollow microspheres consisting of mesoporous silica nanoshells decorated with an inner layer of palladium nanoparticles and their use as Pd-nanoreactors in aqueous media. These palladium-equipped capsules can be used to promote the uncaging of propargyl-protected phenols, as well as Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling, in water and at physiologically compatible temperatures. Importantly, the depropargylation reaction can be accomplished in a bioorthogonal manner in the presence of relatively high concentrations of biomolecular components and even in the presence of mammalian cells.European Commission | Ref. n. 340055Ministerio de Economía | Ref. SAF2016-76689-RMinisterio de Economía | Ref. CTQ2017-84767-PMinisterio de Economía | Ref. CTM2014-58481-RAgencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. CTM2017-84050-RMinisterio de Economía | Ref. CTQ2016-81797- REDCXunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C/2017119Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431G/0