Evaluations of a cellulose supported palladium catalyst

CHED 392

Fatima T. Carmichael, carmi006@bama.ua.edu and Kevin H. Shaughnessy, kshaughn@bama.ua.edu. Department of Chemistry and Center for Green Manufacturing, The University of Alabama, Box 870336, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0336
Palladium catalyst are widely utilized in coupling reactions such as the Suzuki coupling. These reactions are becoming more commonly used in the synthesis of fine chemicals. For fine chemical synthesis it is desirable to have a catalyst that can be easily separated from the product stream. The focus of this research has been to use a cellulose supported palladium catalyst for cross-coupling reactions. Cellulose is a renewable resource and it is compatible with aqeuous solvent systems. It is also highly functionalized, which may stabilize the heterogeneous palladium catalyst. By evaluating cellulose supported reactions verses carbon supported reactions we hope to be able to find more efficient and sustainable heterogeneous catalysts for cross-coupling reactions.