Design and synthesis of novel benzimidazole-iminosugars linked a substituted phenyl group and their inhibitory activities against ß-glucosidase.

A series of novel benzimidazole-iminosugars linked a (substuituted) phenyl group on benzene ring of benzimidazole 5(a-p) and 6(a-p) have been rationally designed and conveniently synthesized through Suzuki coupling reaction in high yields. All compounds have been evaluated for their inhibitory activities against ß-glucosidase (almond). Six compounds 5d, 6d, 6e, 6i, 6n, and 6p showed more significant inhibitory activities with IC50 values in the range of 0.03-0.08 µM, almost 10-fold improved than that of the parent analogue 4, and much higher than that of the positive control castanospermine. The additional phenyl ring and the electron donating groups on it would be beneficial for the activity. Compounds 6d, 6n, and 4 had been chosen to be tested for their inhibition types against ß-glucosidase. Interestingly, three compounds have different inhibition types although they had very similar structure. Their Ki values were calculated to be 0.02 ± 0.01 µM, 0.02 ± 0.01 µM, and 0.66 ± 0.14 µM, respectively. The equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) for 6d, 6n, and 4 and ß-glucosidase was 0.04 µM, 0.03 µM and 0.45 µM by the ITC-based assay, respectively. Molecular docking work suggests that such benzimidazole-iminosugars derivatives might bind to the active site of ß-glucosidase mainly through hydrogen bonds, the additional phenyl ring towards the solvent-exposed region played an important effect on their inhibitory activity against ß-glucosidase.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-aminopyridine derivatives as USP7 inhibitors.

A series of novel 2-aminopyridine derivatives 1-26 have been designed and synthesized by structural modifications on a lead USP7 inhibitor, GNE6640. All the compounds were evaluated for their USP7 inhibitory activities. The results showed that most of the compounds have good USP7 inhibitory activities at the concentration of 50 µM. Among them, compounds 7, 14 and 21 are the most potential ones from each category with the IC50 values of 7.6 ± 0.1 µM, 17.0 ± 0.2 µM and 11.6 ± 0.5 µM, respectively. Compounds 7 and 21 expressed significant binding interactions with USP7 by surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based binding assay, but both of them presented moderate antiproliferative activities against HCT116 cells. They could effectively promote MDM2 degradation, p53 stabilization and p21 gene expression in the western blot analysis.

Synthesis and Theoretical Studies of Biologically Active Thieno Nucleus Incorporated Tri and Tetracyclic Nitrogen Containing Heterocyclics Scaffolds via Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reaction.

A new series of thieno nucleus embellished trinuclear (19, 20) and tetranuclear (21-24) nitrogen heteroaryl have been synthesized by the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction using bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) dichloride. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, 1 H-NMR, 13 CNMR and Mass spectral properties. In vitro antibacterial studies of the synthesized compound were conducted using broth microdilution assay employing Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains and half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 ) was determined. The result showed that compound 20 possess best antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli with IC50 values of 60 µg mL-1 and 90 µg mL-1 . Further to determine the mode of antibacterial action, compounds 20 and 21 were examined for in vitro bacterial dehydrogenase inhibitory assay. To understand the binding affinity of the synthesized compounds, the docking study was performed in the bacterial dehydrogenase enzyme by AutoDock Vina software and structure was confirmed by Discovery Studio Visualizer. All the synthesized compounds were docked in a good manner within the active sites of the bacterial dehydrogenase enzyme and exhibited good binding energies.

Synthesis, molecular docking, DFT study, and in vitro antimicrobial activity of some 4-(biphenyl-4-yl)-1,4-dihydropyridine and 4-(biphenyl-4-yl)pyridine derivatives.

The evolution of microbial resistance necessitates the development of new antimicrobial drugs that are more effective than those currently on the market. To address this problem, we have prepared a series of novel 4-(biphenyl-4-yl)-1,4-dihydropyridine and 4-(biphenyl-4-yl)pyridine derivatives via Hantzsch reaction using nine different compounds containing active methylene group. IR, NMR, and mass spectra were used to determine the structures. Using ampicillin and griseofulvin as standards, the titled compounds were investigated for their antibacterial activity against different bacteria and fungi. Compounds 1f, 1g, 2f, and 2g have the best antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria (minimum inhibitory concentration = 50 µg/ml), while 1f, 1h, 2g, and 2h have high antifungal activity against Candida albicans (minimum inhibitory concentration = 100 µg/ml). To gain a better understanding of the binding process and affinity for the bacterial Staphylococcus epidermidis protein, researchers used molecular docking and molecular mechanics, as well as the generalized Born model and solvent accessibility-based binding free energy. The active compounds 1g, 1h, and 2f have good docking scores of -5.575, -5.949, and -5.234, respectively, whereas compound 2c has the greatest docking score (-6.23). The HOMO-LUMO energy gap and molecular electrostatic potential were used to evaluate the reactivity of promising compounds, which were then associated with antibacterial efficacy.

Synthesis and characterization of a green-light-emitting (pbi-Br)2 Ir (acac) metal complex for OLEDs.

We designed and synthesized a 2-(4-bromophenyl)-1-phenyl-1H-benzimidazole (pbi-Br) ligand, which was then employed to create an innovative phosphorescent cyclometallated iridium(III) (pbi-Br)2 Ir(acac) metal complex with acetyl acetone as an ancillary ligand using the Suzuki coupling reaction. The complex was then characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)/differential thermal analysis (DTA) for structural and thermal analysis, respectively. XRD confirmed its amorphous nature and the FTIR spectrum revealed the molecular structure confirmation of the metal complex. The TGA/DTA curve disclosed its thermal stability up to 310°C. Ultraviolet (UV)-vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra were measured to explore the photo-physical properties of the (pbi-Br)2 Ir(acac) complex in basic and acidic media respectively. With the variation in solvent from acidic to basic media, optical absorption peaks blue shifted with variation in optical densities. These results facilitated the calculation of various photo-physical parameters. When excited at 379 nm in the solid state, the synthesized complex gave out a green light emission, peaking at λemi  = 552 nm. Staggering differences in optical density were observed in the PL spectra of the solvated complex. A Stokes' shift of 7140.45 cm-1 and 7364.94 cm-1 was observed when the complex was solvated in acetic acid and chloroform, respectively. Hence the synthesized iridium metal complex can be considered as promising green emissive material for optoelectronic applications.

Synthesis and photophysical properties of 1,2-diphenylindolizine derivatives: fluorescent blue-emitting materials for organic light-emitting device.

New blue-emitting materials based on 1,2-diphenylindolizine were designed and synthesized through a microwave-assisted Suzuki coupling reaction. The photophysical, electrochemical, and thermal properties of the 1,2-diphenylindolizine derivatives were investigated using UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The 1,2-diphenylindolizine derivatives had band gaps of 3.1-3.4 eV and indicated proper emission of around 450 nm without significant difference between in solution and thin solid film. The indolizine derivatives show an enhanced thermal stability (∆Tm > 100 °C), compared with 1,2-diphenylindolizine. These results suggest the 1,2-diphenylindolizine derivatives are suitable for blue-emitting materials in organic light-emitting devices.

Polyoxometalate-mediated one-pot synthesis of Pd nanocrystals with controlled morphologies for efficient chemical and electrochemical catalysis.

Polyoxometalates (POMs), as inorganic ligands, can endow metal nanocrystals (NCs) with unique reactivities on account of their characteristic redox properties. In the present work, we present a facile POM-mediated one-pot aqueous synthesis method for the production of single-crystalline Pd NCs with controlled shapes and sizes. The POMs could function as both reducing and stabilizing agents in the formation of NCs, and thus gave a fine control over the nucleation and growth kinetics of NCs. The prepared POM-stabilized Pd NCs exhibited excellent catalytic activity and stability for electrocatalytic (formic acid oxidation) and catalytic (Suzuki coupling) reactions compared to Pd NCs prepared without the POMs. This shows that the POMs play a pivotal role in determining the catalytic performance, as well as the growth, of NCs. We envision that the present approach can offer a convenient way to develop efficient NC-based catalyst systems.

Total Synthesis and Anti-Inflammatory Evaluation of Osajin, Scandenone and Analogues.

In this study, the total synthesis of osajin, scandenone and their analogues have been accomplished. The key synthetic steps include aldol/intramolecular iodoetherification/elimination sequence reactions and a Suzuki coupling reaction to assemble the tricyclic core, chemoselective propargylation and Claisen rearrangement reactions to obtain natural compounds. In addition, we also designed and synthesized twenty-five natural product analogues. All synthetic compounds were screened for anti-inflammatory activity against tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Collectively, Compound 39e and 39d were considered as promising lead compounds for further development.

Boosting Suzuki coupling reaction via pore expanding and palladium-zinc alloying.

A palladium-zinc alloy nanoparticles decorated nitrogen-doped porous carbon catalyst (PdZn30-NC) was synthesized and utilized for Suzuki coupling reaction. The alloying palladium (Pd) with zinc (Zn) and pore expanding are realized simultaneously. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental studies reveal that the alloying Pd with Zn can lower the energy barrier in Suzuki coupling reaction. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements uncover that pore expansion caused by the zinc nitrate hexahydrate assisted calcination gives rise to the multiplication of mesopore with a pore diameter of 6 nm, which facilitates mass transfer during the reaction. As a result, the alloying Pd with Zn and pore expanding together endow PdZn30-NC with excellent catalytic activity. PdZn30-NC demonstrates exceptional catalytic activity and stability in Suzuki coupling reaction. A high biphenyl yield of 97.7 % within 40 min and stable reusability of 93.3 % yield after five reuse cycles can be achieved. This work not only offers a viable method for Suzuki coupling reaction, but also provides insights for designing new catalysts toward Suzuki coupling reaction.

4-Iodobenzonitrile as a fluorogenic derivatization reagent for chromatographic analysis of L-p-boronophenylalanine in whole blood samples using Suzuki coupling reaction.

BACKGROUND: L-p-Boronophehylalanine (BPA) is used in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), which is a novel selective cancer radiotherapy technique. It is important to measure BPA levels in human blood for effective radiotherapy; a prompt gamma-ray spectrometer, ICP-AES, and ICP-MS have been used for this purpose. However, these methods require sophisticated and expensive apparatuses as well as experienced analysts. Herein, we propose an HPLC-FL method for the determination of BPA after precolumn derivatization. A new fluorogenic reagent for aryl boronic acid derivatives, namely, 4-iodobenzonitrile, was employed for the fluorogenic derivatization of BPA based on the Suzuki coupling reaction. RESULTS: After the fluorogenic derivatization, a fluorescent cyanobiphenyl derivative is formed with maximum fluorescence at 335 nm after excitation at 290 nm. The developed method showed good linearity (r2=0.997) over the concentration range of 0.5-1000 nmol/L, and the detection limit (S/N = 3) was 0.26 nmol/L. The proposed method is more sensitive than previously reported methods for the determination of BPA, including the ICP-MS. Finally, the proposed method was successively applied to the measurement of BPA in human whole blood samples with a good recovery rate (≥95.7 %) using only 10 µL of blood sample. The proposed method offers a simple and efficient solution for monitoring BPA levels in BNCT-treated patients. SIGNIFICANCE: 4-Iodobenzonitrile was investigated as a new fluorogenic reagent for BPA based on Suzuki coupling. A new HPLC-FL method for BPA in whole blood samples with ultrasensitivity was developed. The developed method is superior in sensitivity to all previously reported methods for BPA. The method requires only a very small sample volume, making it suitable for micro-blood analysis of BPA via fingerstick sampling.

Quinolinyl-based multitarget-directed ligands with soluble epoxide hydrolase and fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitory activities: Synthetic studies and pharmacological evaluations.

Simultaneous inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) with a single small molecule represents a novel therapeutic approach in treating inflammatory pain, since both targets are involved in pain and inflammation processes. In this study using multi-target directed ligands methodology we designed and synthesized 7 quinolinyl-based dual sEH/FAAH inhibitors, using an optimized microwave-assisted Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction and tested their potency in human FAAH and human, rat, and mouse sEH inhibition assays. The structure-activity relationship study showed that quinolinyl moiety is well tolerated in the active sites of both enzymes, yielding several very potent dual sEH/FAAH inhibitors with the IC50 values in the low nanomolar range. The most potent dual inhibitor 4d was further evaluated in stability assay in human and rat plasma where it performed better than the standard Warfarin while in vivo study revealed that 1 mg/kg 4d can inhibit acute inflammatory pain in male rats to a similar degree as the traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen (30 mg/kg) after intraperitoneal injection. ADMET prediction studies for this dual inhibitor show favorable pharmacokinetic properties which will guide the future in vivo evaluations.

Preparation of PdNi bimetallic loaded amino modified porous carbon material catalyst based on chitosan and its applications.

The utilization efficiency of palladium-based catalysts has sharply increased in many catalytic reactions. However, numerous studies have shown that preparing alloys of palladium with other metals has superior catalytic activity than pure palladium. Additionally, hierarchical porous carbon has gradually developed into an excellent carrier for loading bimetallic nanoparticles. In this study, we firstly pyrolyzed chitosan, sodium bicarbonate and nickel nitrate to create highly dispersed porous carbon materials doped with Ni NPs. The carbon materials were then grafted with silane coupling agent (APTMS) to afford them with amino groups on the surface. Taking advantage of the fact that Pd2+ can react with Ni in spontaneous reduction reaction, Pd was deposited on the surface of Ni to produce PdNi bimetallic-loaded carbon catalysts containing amino groups. The resulting catalysts were examined by a series of characterizations and were found to have a hierarchically porous structure and large specific surface area, which increased the number of active sites of the catalysts. In comparison to other Pd catalysts, the PdNi/HPCS-NH2 catalysts displayed remarkable activity for Suzuki coupling reaction and hydro reduction of nitroaromatics, which exhibited a high turnover frequency value (TOF) of 37,857 h-1 and 680.9 h-1, respectively. These were mainly due to the high dispersion of the PdNi NPs and the superior structure of the carriers. Moreover, the catalysts did not experience a significant decline in activity after ten cycles. All in all, this investigation has created a new approach for the fabrication of novel carriers for Pd catalysts, which is in line with the concept of green chemistry and recyclable.

Construction of Ultrastable Conjugated Microporous Polymers Containing Thiophene and Fluorene for Metal Ion Sensing and Energy Storage.

In this study, we have used the one-pot polycondensation method to prepare novel 2D conjugated microporous polymers (Th-F-CMP) containing thiophene (Th) and fluorene (Fl) moieties through the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data revealed that Th-F-CMP (Td10 = 418 °C, char yield: 53 wt%). Based on BET analyses, the Th-F-CMP sample displayed a BET specific surface area of 30 m2 g-1, and the pore size was 2.61 nm. Next, to show the effectiveness of our study, we utilized Th-F-CMP as a fluorescence probe for the selective detection of Fe3+ ions at neutral pH with a linear range from 2.0 to 25.0 nM (R2 = 0.9349). Furthermore, the electrochemical experimental studies showed that the Th-F-CMP framework had a superior specific capacity of 84.7 F g-1 at a current density of 0.5 A g-1 and outstanding capacitance retention (88%) over 2000 cycles.

Porous aromatic frameworks with high Pd nanoparticles loading as efficient catalysts for the Suzuki coupling reaction.

The development of efficient and recyclable heterogeneous Pd catalysts is an area of continuing attention due to their critical applications in organic synthesis and pharmaceutical production. In this study, two novel heterogeneous catalysts Pd@PAF-182 and Pd@PAF-183 were prepared by the immobilization/NaBH4 reduction of PdCl42- on hydrophilic cationic porous aromatic frameworks (PAF-182 and PAF-183), which were synthesized via a Yamamoto-type Ullmann coupling reaction from the corresponding aryl quaternary phosphonium salt monomer. Characterization by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), solid-state Cross-Polarization Magic-Angle-Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (CP/MAS NMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) established the structures of the as-prepared catalysts. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) detection showed that the loading of Pd nanoparticles (Pd NPs) were 29.4 wt% for Pd@PAF-182 and 37.5 wt% for Pd@PAF-183, much higher than those of similar porous materials. Evaluation of the catalytic activity of the Pd@PAFs using Suzuki coupling as the model reaction demonstrated that as little as 0.12 mol% of Pd NPs could catalyze the Suzuki coupling with high efficiency, achieving yields up to 99% at 80 °C in 8 h. Recycling experiments also suggested that Pd@PAF-182 and Pd@PAF-183 maintained high catalytic activity with negligible leaching of Pd NPs after five cycles.

Pd Clusters on Schiff Base-Imidazole-Functionalized MOFs for Highly Efficient Catalytic Suzuki Coupling Reactions.

Subnanometer noble metal clusters have attracted much attention because of abundant low-coordinated metal atoms that perform excellent catalytic activity in various catalytic processes. However, the surface free energy of metals increases significantly with decreasing size of the metal clusters, which accelerates the aggregation of small clusters. In this work, new Schiff base-imidazole-functionalized MOFs were successfully synthesized via the postsynthetic modification method. Highly dispersed Pd clusters with an average size of 1.5 nm were constructed on this functional MOFs and behaved excellent catalytic activity in the Suzuki coupling of phenyboronic acid and bromobenzene (yield of biaryl >99%) under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, the catalyst can be reused six times without loss of activity. Such catalytic behavior is found to closely related to the surface functional groups that promote the formation of small Pd0 clusters in the metallic state.

Photothermal Suzuki Coupling Over a Metal Halide Perovskite/Pd Nanocube Composite Catalyst.

The development of improved catalysts capable of performing the Suzuki coupling reaction has attracted considerable attention. Recent findings have shown that the use of photoactive catalysts improves the performance, while the reaction mechanism and temperature-dependent performance of such systems are still under debate. Herein, we report Pd nanocubes/CsPbBr3 as an efficient catalyst for the photothermal Suzuki reaction. The photo-induced and thermal contribution to the overall catalytic performance has been investigated. Light controls the activity at temperatures around and below 30 °C, while thermal catalysis determines the reactivity at higher temperatures. The Pd/CsPbBr3 catalyst exhibits 11 times higher activity than pure CsPbBr3 at 30 °C due to reduced activation barrier and facilitated charge carrier dynamics. Furthermore, the alkoxide radicals (R-O-) for the Suzuki reaction are experimentally and theoretically confirmed, and photogenerated holes are proven to be crucial for cleaving C-B bonds of phenylboronic acids to drive the reaction. This work prescribes a general strategy to study photothermal catalysis and offers a mechanistic guideline for photothermal Suzuki reactions.

Linker Engineering of 2D Imine Covalent Organic Frameworks for the Heterogeneous Palladium-Catalyzed Suzuki Coupling Reaction.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an emerging class of porous organic polymers that have been utilized as scaffolds for anchoring metal active species to act as heterogeneous catalysts. Though several examples of such COFs exist, a thorough experimental and computational analysis on such catalysts is limited. In this work, a series of two-dimensional (2D) imine COFs (TTA-DFB COF (N), TTA-TBD COF (N∧O), and TTA-DFP COF(N∧N)) were synthesized by using suitable building units to obtain three different coordination sites (N, N∧O, and N∧N). These were post-modified with Pd(II) to catalyze the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction. Pd@TTA-DFB COF, where Pd(II) was coordinated to N sites, showed the fastest reactivity and lower stability. Pd@TTA-DFP COF showed highest stability but slowest reactivity. Pd@TTA-TBD COF was the best among the three with both high stability and fast reactivity. By combining both experimental and computational results, we conclude that the Pd(II) to Pd(0) reduction is a key step in the difference between the catalytic reactivities of the three COFs. This study demonstrates the importance of the building block approach to design COFs for efficient heterogeneous catalysis and to understand the fate of the reaction profile.

A Mini Review on the Development of Conjugated Polymers: Steps towards the Commercialization of Organic Solar Cells.

This review article covers the synthesis and design of conjugated polymers for carefully adjusting energy levels and energy band gap (EBG) to achieve the desired photovoltaic performance. The formation of bonds and the delocalization of electrons over conjugated chains are both explained by the molecular orbital theory (MOT). The intrinsic characteristics that classify conjugated polymers as semiconducting materials come from the EBG of organic molecules. A quinoid mesomeric structure (D-A ↔ D+ = A-) forms across the major backbones of the polymer as a result of alternating donor-acceptor segments contributing to the pull-push driving force between neighboring units, resulting in a smaller optical EBG. Furthermore, one of the most crucial factors in achieving excellent performance of the polymer is improving the morphology of the active layer. In order to improve exciton diffusion, dissociation, and charge transport, the nanoscale morphology ensures nanometer phase separation between donor and acceptor components in the active layer. It was demonstrated that because of the exciton's short lifetime, only small diffusion distances (10-20 nm) are needed for all photo-generated excitons to reach the interfacial region where they can separate into free charge carriers. There is a comprehensive explanation of the architecture of organic solar cells using single layer, bilayer, and bulk heterojunction (BHJ) devices. The short circuit current density (Jsc), open circuit voltage (Voc), and fill factor (FF) all have a significant impact on the performance of organic solar cells (OSCs). Since the BHJ concept was first proposed, significant advancement and quick configuration development of these devices have been accomplished. Due to their ability to combine great optical and electronic properties with strong thermal and chemical stability, conjugated polymers are unique semiconducting materials that are used in a wide range of applications. According to the fundamental operating theories of OSCs, unlike inorganic semiconductors such as silicon solar cells, organic photovoltaic devices are unable to produce free carrier charges (holes and electrons). To overcome the Coulombic attraction and separate the excitons into free charges in the interfacial region, organic semiconductors require an additional thermodynamic driving force. From the molecular engineering of conjugated polymers, it was discovered that the most crucial obstacles to achieving the most desirable properties are the design and synthesis of conjugated polymers toward optimal p-type materials. Along with plastic solar cells (PSCs), these materials have extended to a number of different applications such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and field-effect transistors (FETs). Additionally, the topics of fluorene and carbazole as donor units in conjugated polymers are covered. The Stille, Suzuki, and Sonogashira coupling reactions widely used to synthesize alternating D-A copolymers are also presented. Moreover, conjugated polymers based on anthracene that can be used in solar cells are covered.

Highly Dispersed Pd Clusters Anchored on Nanoporous Cellulose Microspheres as a Highly Efficient Catalyst for the Suzuki Coupling Reaction.

With the depletion of nonrenewable resources such as oil/coal/gas, more and more research studies began to focus on the high-value utilization of residual biomass resources. Herein, for the first time, honeycomb nanoporous microspheres fabricated from renewable biomass resources of cellulose were used as a carrier to fabricate a highly dispersed palladium (Pd) nanocatalyst. Various physicochemical characterizations presented convincing pieces of evidence for the good dispersion of Pd clusters with a mean diameter of 1.6 nm. As the carrier, cellulose microspheres with an interconnected nanoporous structure contributed to the adhesion and dispersion of Pd particles, and their rich hydroxyl groups could fix the Pd particles. Importantly, the cellulose matrix could in situ induce the formation of metallic Pd(0) during calcination without a reductant. The cellulose/Pd catalyst was applied to the Suzuki coupling reaction, which exhibited promising catalytic activity compared to commercial Pd/C and unsupported homogeneous Pd(OAc)2 catalysts, as well as good stability. The utilization of the residual biomass resource to build catalyst materials would be important for the sustainable chemistry.

Design and application of sporopollenin microcapsule supported palladium catalyst: Remarkably high turnover frequency and reusability in catalysis of biaryls.

Bio-based catalyst support materials with high thermal and structural stability are desired for catalysts systems requiring harsh conditions. In this study, a thermally stable palladium catalyst (up to 440°C) was designed from sporopollenin, which occurs naturally in the outer exine layer of pollens and is widely acknowledged as chemically very stable and inert biological material. Catalyst design procedure included (1) extraction of sporopollenin microcapsules from Betula pendula pollens (∼25µm), (2) amino-functionalisation of the microcapsules, (3) Schiff base modification and (4) preparation of Pd(II) catalyst. The catalytic activity of the sporopollenin microcapsule supported palladium catalyst was tested in catalysis of biaryls by following a fast, simple and green microwave-assisted method. We recorded outstanding turnover number (TON: 40,000) and frequency (TOF: 400,000) for the catalyst in Suzuki coupling reactions. The catalyst proved to be reusable at least in eight cycles. The catalyst can be suggested for different catalyst systems due to its thermal and structural durability, reusability, inertness to air and its eco-friendly nature.