Ordered mesoporous SBA-15/PrSO3Pd and SBA-15/PrSO3PdNP as active, reusable and selective phosphine-free catalysts in CX activation.

The incorporation of sulfonate into mesoporous SBA-15 as ligands for palladium ions was used. Then SBA-15/PrSO3Pd and SBA-15/PrSO3PdNP were prepared and applied for the Heck reaction of conjugate alkenes with aryl halides, to afford corresponding products under phosphine-free aerobic conditions with good to excellent yields. These supported palladium pre-catalysts could be separated easily from reaction products and reused several times, showing superiority over homogeneous catalysts for industrial and chemical applications. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]