Pd supported on clicked cellulose-modified magnetite-graphene oxide nanocomposite for C-C coupling reactions in deep eutectic solvent

Cellulose-modified magnetite-graphene oxide nanocomposite was prepared via click reaction and utilized for immobilization of palladium (Pd) nanoparticles without using additional reducing agent. The abundant OH groups of cellulose provided the uniform dispersion and high stability of Pd nanoparticles, while magnetite-graphene oxide as a supporting material offered high specific surface area and easy magnetic separation. The as-prepared nanocomposite served as a heterogeneous catalyst for the Heck and Sonogashira coupling reactions in various hydrophilic and hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as sustainable and environmentally benign reaction media. Among the fifteen DESs evaluated for coupling reactions, the hydrophilic DES composed of dimethyl ammonium chloride and glycerol exhibited the best results. Due to the low miscibility of catalyst and DES in organic solvents, the separated aqueous phase containing both of the catalyst and DES can be readily recovered by evaporating water and retrieved eight times with negligible loss of catalytic performance.