Pd Complex of Ferrocenylphosphine Supported on Magnetic Nanoparticles: A Highly Reusable Catalyst for Transfer Hydrogenation and Coupling Reactions

In this study, diphenylphosphino-ferrocenylethylamine conjugated with dopamine and complexed with Pd metal and anchored on magnetic nanoparticles is used as a reusable catalyst for the transformation of a series of organic functional groups. The prepared catalyst composed of a homogeneous component (ligand) attached to the heterogeneous part (Fe₃O₄) was characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, and XPS. A wide variety of catalytic reactions, such as transfer hydrogenation (TH) and coupling reaction, was investigated. Nitrophenol, one of the pollutants in groundwater, is straightforwardly hydrogenated to produce the corresponding aromatic amine with >99% selectivity using tetrahydroxydiboron as the hydrogen source in water. Styrene is selectively hydrogenated to produce ethylbenzene also in water. Mizoriki-Heck and Suzuki-Miyuara cross-coupling reactions produce excellent results in higher olefin synthesis and biphenyl formation under basic conditions. The catalyst displays high structural stability and can be reused multiple times without supplementing the catalyst. A facile and balancing combination between an organic coordination complex capable of catalyzing reactions with an ultrasmall magnetic solid support allows the convenient separation of the catalyst from the reaction mixture.