Palladium nanoparticles in ionic liquids: reusable catalysts for aerobic oxidation of alcohols

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Mondal, Arijit, Das, Amit, Adhikary, Bibhutosh, Mukherjee, Deb Kumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.04.2014; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agglomeration; Alcohols; Catalysis; Catalysts; Catalytic methods; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Inorganic Chemistry; Ionic liquids; Lasers; Low-dimensional structures (superlattices, quantum well structures, multilayers): structure, and nonelectronic properties; Materials Science; Methods of nanofabrication; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanoparticles; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanotechnology; Optical Devices; Optics; Oxidation; Palladium; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Research Paper; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Nanoparticles; Nanostructured catalysts; Palladium; Oxidation; Agglomeration; Ionic liquid; Catalysts; Dispersions; Nanostructures; Nanochemistry; Alcohols; Aggregation; Chlorides; Reaction mechanism; Catalysis; Catalyst activity; Electrostatics; Nanostructured materials
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-014-2366-6

The search for more efficient catalytic systems that might combine the advantages of both homogenous (catalyst modulation) and heterogenous catalysis (catalyst recycling) is still the challenge of modern chemistry. With the advent of nanochemistry, it has been possible to prepare soluble analogues of heterogenous catalysts. These nanoparticles are generally stabilized against aggregation into larger less active particles by electrostatic or steric protection. In the present case, we demonstrate the use of room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) as effective agents of dispersion of palladium nanoparticles (prepared from palladium chloride with 5 ± 0.5 nm size distribution) that are recyclable catalysts for aerobic oxidation of alcohols under mild conditions. The particles suspended in ILs show no metal agglomeration or loss of catalytic activity even on prolonged use. An attempt has been made to elucidate the reaction mechanism of aerobic alcohol oxidation using a soluble palladium catalyst.