LAUSR

Abstract In this study, the excellent chelating capability of chitosan (CS) and remarkable physical properties of Al or Al-Fe pillared montmorillonite (Mt) (i.e. high adsorption/diffusion capacity, thermal stability, and mechanical property, etc.) have been combined into a composite material to support Pd0 nanoparticles catalysts. The BET surface area of the resultant Pd0@CS/Al-Mt and Pd0@CS/Al-Fe-Mt were observed as 63.2 m2·g−1 and 109.7 m2·g−1, respectively. CS chains and Pd0 nanoparticles (sized up to 3 nm) were well encaged in the interlayer spaces of the pillared Mt. The resultant catalysts showed high catalytic efficiency and excellent stability for Sonogashira coupling reactions of aryl iodides or bromides with terminal aryl alkynes. It was found that the comprehensive properties of Pd0@CS/Al-Fe-Mt catalyst was higher than that of Pd0@CS/Al-Mt catalyst, which was mainly attributed to the higher specific surface area and smaller-sized Pd0 nanoparticles.