Palladium(0) Deposited on PAMAM Dendrimers as a Catalyst for C–C Cross Coupling Reactions

PAMAM dendrimers of generations G2–G3 as well as a partially substituted derivative of generation G4 and a low-molecular-weight tricyclic ligand 4 were used to bind Pd(0) nanoparticles. The obtained adducts were tested as catalysts for C–C cross-coupling reactions, such as the Suzuki-Miyaura, Hiyama, Heck and Sonogashira reaction. The highest yields of the coupling product, diphenylacetylene, were obtained with all the catalysts studied in the Sonogashira coupling performed in ethanol with K(2)CO(3) as base. Very good results, 85–100%, were also found in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, while the efficiency of the Hiyama coupling appeared lower, with 38–52% of 2-Methylbiphenyl formed. In all reactions, the G2–Pd(0) catalyst, containing an unmodified dendrimer, afforded the highest yields of the cross-coupling products.