LAUSR

Abstract A new Pd(0) catalyst supported on silica UVM-7 has been synthesized from the organometallic [Pd2{μ-(C6H4) PPh2}2(CH3CN)4](BF4)2 precursor, characterized by the high dispersion, activity, and small size of the palladium nanoclusters fixed on the silica surface. The catalyst was tested for the Suzuki-Miyaura (SM) reaction of different 4-substitutedphenyl halides with phenylboronic acid. The kinetic study concurs with most of the catalytic action was carried out by Pd species originated by the partial solubilization of Pd immobilized on mesoporous silica. The Schmidt’s analysis of differential selectivity (SADS) in several competitive SM reactions, together the STEM-HAADF and HRTEM images of the catalyst surface taken along several reuse cycles support the conclusions of the kinetic study. Furthermore, this hypothesis was critically investigated using different classic approaches to distinguish between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis as the three phases test, poisoning, and hot filtrate experiments.