Ag–Cu₂O Supported Biomass-Derived rGO for Catalyzing Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Coupling

The search for cost-effective, efficient, and ecofriendly heterogeneous catalysts for the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction is crucial due to challenges with expensive, toxic homogeneous catalysts. This study centrally aims at crafting a pioneering green catalyst by adorning reduced graphene oxide (rGO), sourced from basil seeds (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.), with an Ag-Cu₂O composite structure. Comprehensive characterization of the Ag-Cu₂O/rGO nanocomposite was conducted through FTIR, SEM, hHR-TEM, EDS, XPS, XRD, TGA, and N₂ adsorption/desorption analyses. Results showed that nanosized Ag-Cu₂O particles were partially integrated into rGO sheets derived from basil seeds, acting as active species for oxidative addition with aryl halides in the SMR. The catalytic efficacy of this robust nanocatalyst was assessed in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions, targeting the synthesis of biaryls employing various aryl halides and aryl boronic acids. The findings underscore that the Ag-Cu₂O/rGO nanocatalyst manifests rapid reaction kinetics (15 min) alongside commendable yields (99%). The Ag-Cu₂O/rGO demonstrates impressive recyclability, maintaining catalytic efficiency over four cycles. Utilizing it as a green substrate for metal loading highlights its potential, offering well-defined coordination sites. This approach facilitates stable heterogeneous catalyst fabrication, crucial for significant bond formations. Notable features include broad applicability, exceptional functional tolerance, scalability, and practicality. Moreover, it holds promise for automating safe processes and enabling efficient late-stage functionalization of complex molecules with moderate to high efficiency, presenting promising prospects for various applications in chemical synthesis.