The synthesis of nanoparticles is an increasingly popular field of interest. The application of nanoparticles is especially popular in the field of nanocatalysts. Metal nanoparticles (NPs) are favorable for catalysis because of the large surface area to volume ratio, which allows them to catalyze a variety of reactions using lesser amounts of active material. As the field of nanoparticle research expands, efforts are being made to create more sustainable approaches to the synthesis of these particles. This research sought to step away from harsh organic solvents for the synthesis and use of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) while recognizing that such organic solvents are a necessary component of a large range of catalytic reactions. PdNPs were synthesized in water, with the use of peptides to mediate the NP formation. The PdNPs were characterized by UV-Vis, hydrodynamic size, and SEM-TED analysis. The effectiveness of these nanoparticles as catalysts was examined through the use of carbon-carbon coupling reactions with aryl halides to yield biphenyl products. The catalytic studies were conducted in matching solvent concentrations as the NP synthesis at room temperature and pressure at a catalyst loading of 0.05 mol%. The results of the carbon-carbon coupling utilizing the PdNPs were quantified using NMR and GC-MS. The overall aim of this research is to determine the optimal conditions to make and use these PdNPs in less harsh organic solvents while maintaining environmentally benign conditions.

Determination of optimal mild organic solvents for synthesis of PdNPs for carbon-carbon coupling reactions

2019 Spring National Meeting

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