Pd/Mg(OH)2/MgO–ZrO2 Nanocomposite Systems for Highly Efficient Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling Reaction at Room Temperature: Implications for Low-Carbon Green Organic Synthesis

Achieving a room-temperature Suzuki–Miyaura coupling (SMC) with high efficiency is of great significance to the development of low-carbon organic synthesis. Nevertheless, it is still a great challenge to construct a promising nanocatalyst with high activity for room-temperature SMC reaction. In this paper, a strong alkaline-supported nanocatalyst Pd/Mg(OH)2/MgO–ZrO2 was rationally developed based on MgO–ZrO2 hybrid nanofibers. Physicochemical characterizations present that the in situ conversion of MgO to Mg(OH)2 on the surface of the nanofibers results in a great increase in surface alkalinity of the carrier. The strong alkalinity can greatly accelerate the oxidation addition and transmetalation of the SMC process, resulting in the obvious reduction of activation energy of the reaction (Ea = 9.0 kJmol–1 for Ph–Br). The coupling conversion can reach up to 100% at room temperature within 8 min with a maximum TOF > 6516 h–1. It also shows an excellent performance in substrate applicability and chlorobenzene activation. The rational design of a high-basicity catalyst for room-temperature SMC will be a rewarding attempt for the development of low-carbon green organic synthesis.