Palladium nanoparticles supported on Smopex®metal scavengers ascatalyst for carbonylative Sonogashira reactions: Synthesis of α,β-alkynyl ketones

Palladium nanoparticles supported on two Smopex®commercial metal scavengers (1% w/w) have beentested in the carbonylative Sonogashira reactions of aryl iodides with phenylacetylene. Their catalyticactivity has been compared with those of more common catalysts (Pd/C, Pd/-Al2O3). Pd/Smopex®-234resulted especially effective in the synthesis of alkynyl ketones even working with a low amount ofpalladium (0.2–0.5 mol%). Preliminary heterogeneity tests (i.e. hot filtration test, Pd leaching and recycleof the catalyst) have been performed in order to evaluate the catalytic behaviour of this system. Theobtained results seem to indicate that Pd/Smopex®-234 could act as a truly heterogeneous catalyst.