3.1. Characterization of catalyst
The FT-IR spectra of Hal, Hal-DAB-PC, and Pd@Hal-DAB-PC are illustrated in Figure 1. In the FT-IR spectrum of Hal, the prominent absorption peaks at 536, 1651, and 3627-3700 are ascribed to the stretching vibrations of Al-O-Si, Si-O, and inner -OH groups, respectively.30 The emergence of a new absorption peak at 1625 cm−1 corresponding to stretching vibration of C=N in the FT-IR spectrum of Hal-DAB-PC affirms the successful synthesis of Schiff base. There isn’t an obvious change in the spectrum of Pd@Hal-DAB-PC, suggesting that the immobilization of Pd doesn’t influence the distinctive peaks of Hal-DAB-PC.
The morphology as well as the chemical composition of Pd@Hal-DAB-PC were surveyed by FE-SEM and EDS analyses (Figure 2 and 3). The SEM image of the catalyst exhibits that the tubular morphology of Hal remained unchanged after modification with Schiff base and incorporation of Pd NPs. Also, the EDX spectrum of the Pd@Hal-DAB-PC demonstrates the presence of Al, Si, and O elements which are ascribed to the Hal structure. Apart from these elements, the observation of the peaks of C, N, and Pd authenticates the attendance of Schiff base as well as Pd NPs in the final structure of Pd@Hal-DAB-PC.
Also, the EDX spectrum of the Pd@Hal-DAB-PC demonstrates the presence of Al, Si, and O elements which are ascribed to the Hal structure (Figure 3). Apart from these elements, the observation of the peaks of C, N, and Pd authenticates the attendance of Schiff base as well as Pd NPs in the final structure of Pd@Hal-DAB-PC.
In the following, the thermostability of the catalyst and the percentage of the organic groups linked to the surface of the Hal were examined using TGA. The thermograph of the Pd@Hal-DAB-PC depicts three decomposition steps (Figure 4). The initial weight reduction (about 10-12 %) at low temperatures (70-120 °C) can be related to the removal of the adsorbed water and surface hydroxyl groups. A higher weight loss (10-20%) in the region 330-410 °C corresponds to the decomposition of the Schiff base segment and the chloropropyl groups grafted to the Hal. The next minimal weight loss is due to the elimination of chemisorbed water. The observed total weight reduction is 33.97 until 700 °C. These results show good thermal stability of Pd@Hal-DAB-PC.
To obtain information about the crystalline nature and phase composition of the Pd@Hal-DAB-PC, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis was accomplished. The XRD curve of the Pd@Hal-DAB-PC (Figure 5) reveals the distinctive peaks at 2θ = 8°, 12°, 22.6°, 28.2°, 31.5°, 57°, and 68° which are in good record with the XRD pattern of Hal (JCPDS card no. 29-1487).31, 32 This result confirms that the tubular structure of Hal does not destroy during the functionalization and stabilization of Pd. Also, four other obvious bonds located at 2θ = 41°, 47.2°, 68°, and 81° which correspond to (111), (200), (220) and (311) planes from Pd NPs are observed in the XRD pattern of Pd@Hal-DAB-PC.
3.2. Catalytic activity
After the successful synthesis and identification of Pd@Hal-DAB-PC, its catalytic behavior was evaluated in the Sonogashira coupling reaction. For this purpose, the coupling of iodobenzene with phenylacetylene was chosen as a probe reaction and the efficient parameters on this reaction like catalyst amount, temperature, and type of solvent and base were optimized to achieve the highest product yield. The results were summarized in Table 1. K2CO3 as a base in the presence of H2O as a green solvent and 10 mol% of Pd@Hal-DAB-PC at 80 °C was found to be the best reaction conditions.
Table 1.
Optimization for the coupling of aryl iodide and phenyl acetylenea
Entry
|
Reaction condition
|
Catalyst (mol%)
|
Base
|
Time (h)
|
Yield (%)
|
1
|
H2O/ r.t.
|
10
|
K2CO3
|
3
|
90
|
2
|
H2O/ 50 °C
|
10
|
K2CO3
|
2.5
|
92
|
3
|
H2O/ 80 °C
|
10
|
K2CO3
|
2
|
97
|
4
|
H2O/ reflux
|
10
|
K2CO3
|
2
|
95
|
5
|
EtOH, r.t
|
10
|
K2CO3
|
3
|
82
|
6
|
EtOH, reflux
|
10
|
K2CO3
|
2.5
|
88
|
7
|
CH3CN, reflux
|
10
|
K2CO3
|
3
|
85
|
8
|
CHCl3, reflux
|
10
|
K2CO3
|
3.2
|
80
|
9
|
Toluene, 80 °C
|
10
|
K2CO3
|
2.8
|
79
|
10
|
H2O/ 80 °C
|
15
|
K2CO3
|
2
|
96
|
11
|
H2O/ 80 °C
|
5
|
K2CO3
|
2.5
|
82
|
12
|
H2O/ 80 °C
|
10
|
NaOH
|
2.5
|
84
|
aReaction conditions: iodobenzene (1 mmol), phenylacetylene (1.2 mmol), base (3 mmol), and solvent (5 mL).
|
In the next step, the wide utilization of Pd@Hal-DAB-PC was further examined (Table 2). A broad set of aryl iodides involving electron-withdrawing, electron-realizing and sterically hindered groups effectively reacted with terminal alkynes to furnish the respective products in high yields. All compounds are known and their physical data were compared and validated with those of authentic samples. Some selected spectral data are presented in supporting information (Figures S1-S10).
Interestingly, good yields of products are also provided in the coupling of less-reactive (more challenging) aryl chloride with various terminal alkynes.
3.3. Mechanism
A reasonable mechanistic pathway was suggested as depicted in Scheme 3.28 Accordingly, initial oxidative addition of [Pd(0)L2] to the aryl or vinyl halide takes place which is followed by reversible coordination of the alkyne, creating an alkyne-Pd(II) complex. Then, in the presence of a base, it was deprotonated with concurrent coordination of the acetylene ligand to the metal. Next, upon reductive elimination, the [Pd(II)R1(C[tbond]CR2)L2] complex ,releases the cross-coupled product along with regeneration of the catalyst species, [Pd(0)L2].
3.4. Reusability of Pd@Hal-DAB-PC
The stability/reusability of a catalyst is a critical factor from the economic and industrial points of view. In this context, the stability of Pd@Hal-DAB-PC was inspected in the model reaction under the optimal conditions (Figure 6). After completion of the reaction in each run, the catalyst was collected via centrifugation, washed with ethanol, and then reused in the next cycle. The recycling experiments show that Pd@Hal-DAB-PC is highly resistant with a slight decrease in its catalytic efficiency during six runs.
To examine any effect on the catalyst morphology during recyclization process, after six reaction runs, the recycled catalyst was submitted to the SEM analysis, (Fig. 7). As illustrated in Fig. 7, the SEM image of the recycled catalyst was compared with of the freshly used catalyst and was found being similar.