Single-pot tandem oxidative/C–H modification amidation process using ultrasmall Pd(NP)-encapsulated porous organosilica nanotubes

Herein, we studied a single-pot method with a dual catalysis process towards the conversion of primary aromatic alcohols to amides using ultrasmall Pd(NPs) of controlled uniform size (1.8 nm) inside hybrid mesoporous organosilica nanotubes (MO-NTs). The catalyst exhibited excellent performance in water under mild conditions and showed high stability. The catalytic activity towards the tandem oxidation of alcohols in the presence of amine salts and H(2)O(2) to their corresponding amides without producing byproducts was evaluated, and high yields were obtained for all products. The structure of the organosilica nanotubes containing palladium nanoparticles was investigated using various characterization techniques such as XRD, TEM, BET, solid-state (29)Si NMR and solid-state (13)C CP MAS NMR. Catalyst recycling tests showed that the catalytic power of PdNPs@B-SNTs was preserved after 8 cycles and a slight decrease in catalyst activity was observed.