Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous organosilica supported palladium (SBA-Pr-NCQ-Pd) as an efficient nanocatalyst in the Mizoroki–Heck coupling reaction

In the present study, the modification of a mesoporous organosilica nanocomposite SBA-15 (Santa Barbara Amorphous 15) was carried out in two steps, first through the surface functionalization of SBA-Pr-NH₂ with 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbaldehyde to form SBA-Pr-NCQ, and then through a post-modification process with palladium ions. The target nanocompound structure of SBA-Pr-NCQ-Pd was characterized by different techniques (thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). The catalytic performance of the porous inorganic–organic hybrid nanocomposite (SBA-Pr-NCQ-Pd) in one of the most important carbon–carbon bond-forming processes, the Mizoroki–Heck coupling reaction of aryl halides and methacrylate in water/ethanol media, was examined. Compared to previous reports, this protocol afforded some advantages, such as high yields of products, short reaction times, catalyst stability without leaching, simple methodology, easy workup, and greener conditions. Also, the nanocatalyst can be easily separated from the reaction mixture and reused several times without a significant decrease in activity and promises economic as well as environmental benefits.