Green chemistry method used for production of palladium nanocatalyst

Iranian researchers used green chemistry method to produce a nanocatalyst for carbon-carbon bond formation. The nanocatalyst was produced by coating palladium on a bed of gum Arabic. In addition to high activity and stability, the nanocatalyst can be produced easily through a cost-effective method. Compounds obtained from carbon-carbon bond formation play important role in pharmaceutics and agricultural industries. The main important objective of the researchers was to follow some principles of green chemistry in designing and production of palladium nanocatalysts on biopolymeric bed of gum Arabic, and to use it in carbon- carbon bond forming reaction. Results confirmed the reduction of 2-valence palladium to palladium nanoparticles with zero valence with dimensions of 2-10 nm, which had been placed on a bed of gum Arabic. Nanocatalysts synthesized through this method showed very desirable stability against air, humidity and oxygen to the extent that no reduction in their catalytic activity was observed after nine months. On the other hand, the nanocatalyst showed very high activity in carbon-carbon bond formation. Among other achievements of the research, mention can be made of increase in rate and efficiency of the reaction, very simple and cost-effective recyclability of nanocatalyst, and re-use of the catalyst without making any changes in the catalyst properties. The simplicity of the nanocatalyst production method and reduction in its steps comparing to other methods on one hand, and simple separation and recyclability on the other hand make possible the industrial production of the catalyst. Results of the research have been published in Journal of the Iranian Chemical Society, vol. 11, February 2014, pp. 263-269.