Combining a two-dimensional (2D) morphology and plasmonic
photocatalysis
represents an efficient design for light-driven organic transformations.
We report a one-pot synthesis of surfactant templated PdAu nanosheets
(NSs). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy (XPS) analyses show the formation of 2D PdAu structures
was initiated through nanoparticle seeds dispersed in the alkyl ammonium
salt surfactant which acted as a template for the growth into NSs.
The PdAu NSs were used for visible-light-enhanced Suzuki cross coupling.
The PdAu bimetallic NSs outperformed monometallic Pd NSs and commercial
Pd/C in room-temperature Suzuki cross-coupling reactions. The high
catalytic activity is attributed to a combination of the 2D morphology
giving rise to plasmon-enhanced catalysis and a high density of surface
atoms, the electron-rich Pd surface due to alloying, and the presence
of weakly bound amines. A comparative study of surfactant-assisted
NSs and CO-assisted NSs was also carried out to assess the influence
of surface ligands on the catalytic and photocatalytic enhancement
of NSs with similar morphology. The surfactant-assisted NSs showed
substantially superior performance compared to the CO-assisted for
room-temperature Suzuki coupling reactions.
A remarkably broad range of substrates is facilitated in a highly selective imine reduction using PVP stabilised Pd nanoparticles, molecular hydrogen at 1 atm, at just above RT in aqueous ethanol. Very good yields are achieved across previously-problematic substrate classes, and the protocol circumvents issues associated with more popular synthetic approaches. The utility of this system was further demonstrated in the context of late-stage functionalisation of APIs, deuterium incorporation and one-pot multi-step reaction sequences. Through a combination of synthetic mechanistic studies, surface analysis and computational approximations, insights into the features governing the selectivity of this system, and the key binding interactions between the PVP and Pd surface have been gleaned.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.