Interfacing sugar-based surfactant micelles and Cu nanoparticles: a nanoreactor for C–S coupling reactions in water

Abstract

A simple and sustainable synergistic catalytic protocol by interfacing nanomicelles and metal nanoparticles (MNPs) is reported for C–S coupling reactions in water. The sugar-based surfactant GluM was synthesized by introducing a PEG chain to stabilize MNPs and self-assembled to form nanomicelles. Cu₂O nanoparticles were generated via in situ reduction of copper salt in an aqueous solution of the sugar-based surfactant. The nature of the interaction between nanomicelles and Cu₂O nanoparticles was revealed by XPS, XRD, in situ IR, TEM, and ¹H NMR. A broad substrate scope with moderate to excellent yields was documented and the recycling of the GluM/Cu aqueous mixture was surprising.