Easily fabricated and recyclable Pd&Cu@Al catalyst for gram-scale phosphine-free Heck reactions with high TON

A unique Pd&Cu@Al catalyst was easily fabricated just by immersing commercial aluminum foil in a mixed xylene solution of PdCl₂ and CuCl₂. The catalyst fabrication process led to aluminum oxide coatings in situ, which supported the metal nanoparticles and enhanced their catalytic activities for the phosphine-free Heck reaction of aryl halides and styrenes with high turnover number (TON) up to 3.9×10⁵. The reaction can be scaled up to at least 100mmol and has been applied in modification of drug Lapatinib's intermediate with low metal residue. This novel catalyst is of good application potential in industrial production because it was extremely easy to be recycled, in regardless of the generation of the insoluble impurities or tars during the reaction processes.