Oxidation of 1,2-diarylalkynes to 1,2-diketones on acidic mesoporous ZSM-5 supported palladium catalyst

1,2-diketones are important compounds in natural products and bioactive molecules. Current synthesis methods are involved the use of various environmentally hazardous additives and expensive organic ligands in homogeneous catalysis, which limited their practical application. Acidic mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolite supported palladium (Pd/HMZSM-5) was found to be able to transform 1,2-diarylalkynes to 1,2-diketones without any additives. The CC bond of 1,2-diarylalkyne coordinated with PdII sites to form a metal-π complex that was easily nucleophilic attacked by DMSO to form final product. The acidic sites on the catalyst can promote the adsorption and coordination of 1,2-diarylalkyne with PdII and improve the reaction activity.