Regioselective Heck reaction catalyzed by Pd nanoparticles immobilized on DNA-modified MWCNTs

Abstract

This is the first report of regioselective Heck reaction of aryl iodides with 2,3-dihydrofuran using heterogonous nanocatalyst. Herein, palladium nanoparticles is immobilized on DNA-modified multi walled carbon nanotubes and characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma and elemental analysis. DNA as a well-defined structure and biodegradable natural polymer generate the palladium catalyst which showed high activity in common and regioselective Heck reaction in excellent yields and good selectivity under ligand-free and mild reaction conditions. Moreover, the catalyst could be recovered and reused at least nine times without any considerable loss of its catalytic activity.