Carbon nanospheres with well-controlled nano-morphologies as support for palladium-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction

Uniform carbon nanospheres (UCS) with well-controlled nano-morphologies were fabricated by hydrothermal carbonization of sucrose in the presence of kayexalate. Highly dispersed and ultrafine palladium nanoparticles were supported on the UCS through a facile co-reduction process with NaBH 4 as reducing agent. The obtained Pd@UCS exhibited efficient catalytic activity for the Suzuki coupling reaction. Moreover, the as-prepared catalyst could be recycled and reused at least five times without significant loss of its catalytic activity.