POSS-based meso-/macroporous covalent networks: supporting and stabilizing Pd for Suzuki–Miyaura reaction at room temperature

Abstract

A facile template-free strategy for the fabrication of organic–inorganic meso-/macroporous covalent networks was reported by the combination of the aminopropyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) with terephthalic aldehyde (TPA) through Schiff base chemistry reactions. Such porous covalent networks have high BET surface areas and various abundant nitrogen-containing functionalities that could serve as both supports and stabilizers for homogeneous palladium (Pd) catalyst. The resulting heterogeneous Pd catalyst (Pd/POSS–TPA_a) exhibited enhanced catalytic activity for the Suzuki–Miyaura reactions at room temperature with a short reaction time, and the catalyst can be easily recycled up to five times without significant loss in the conversion and the leaching of Pd. The excellent performance of Pd/POSS–TPA_a is mostly attributed to the strong coordination between N-containing groups in the covalent framework and Pd.