Palladium nanoparticles on polysaccharide-derived mesoporous materials and their catalytic performance in C–C coupling reactions

Palladium nanoparticles were successfully prepared using porous materials derived from starch as support media. The nanoparticle size distribution was controllable by selection of the preparation solvent. Materials were characterised and catalytically tested in various C–C coupling reactions, exhibiting excellent catalytic activities in the microwave-assisted Heck, Suzuki and Sonogashira reactions. The palladium-supported materials were also reusable, preserving their catalytic activities after four reuses.