LAUSR

Abstract Pd(0) nanoparticles stabilized over polydopamine (PDA) capped magnetic GO/Fe3O4 nanocomposites (GO/Fe3O4@PDA/Pd) have been synthesized in variable Pd load following a post grafting approach. Pd has been reduced in situ by the functionalized PDA avoiding the use of external harsh reductant. The structural properties of the synthesized materials were studied by different analytical techniques like Field Emission Scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier Transformed Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Powder X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The novel GO/Fe3O4@PDA/Pd(0) nanocomposite exhibited excellent performance as a reusable catalyst in the facile cyanation of aryl halides using K4[Fe(CN)6] as a low cost and safe cyanating agent. The aryl nitriles were obtained in good to excellent yields and the catalyst was recycled up to 13 times with minimal change in its catalytic activity.