Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been physically encapsulated into polymer particles to serve as highly reactive quasi-homogeneous catalysts in various types of chemical transformation reaction. Although diverse synthetic strategies have achieved great progress in designing catalytically active AuNPs, a major concern in most synthetic methods is the inevitable use of stabilizing or capping agents to prepare the colloidal form of AuNPs against their aggregation in solution unless they are supported onto stable substrates.  Furthermore, the presence of stabilizing agents around AuNPs can often minimize and block the readily available active sites of AuNP surfaces, which can greatly reduce their catalytic performance. In this study, we prepared surfactant-free and physically-embedded AuNPs within poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) particles <i>in situ</i> via a light-induced reduction method. The polymer particles did not possess any functional groups to induce strong interactions, but still provided a greatly improved stability to the embedded AuNPs, which resulted in reactive catalysts in homocoupling reactions in pure alcohol and alcohol-rich aqueous solvents under ambient aerobic conditions. <br/>

Gold-polymer nanocomposites as highly reactive catalysts in homocoupling reactions

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.