Heterogeneous Fe3O4@Si-NHC-Pd Catalyst: Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Activity in the Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling Reaction under Mild Conditions

A novel Fe3O4@Si-NHC-Pd catalyst with N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) moiety as an alternative ligand to phosphines for metal complexes has been synthesized and characterized by various methods. Synthesis of metal nanoparticles has been accomplished without aggregation, and the prepared catalyst has been applied in theSuzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of boronic acids and aryl halides in water using Et3N as a base. The catalyst has demonstrated high efficiency at room temperature and can be easily removed from the reaction media using an external magnetic field and recycled at least five times without significant decrease of its activity.