High‐performance tetrahedral palladium nanocatalyst for microwave‐assisted organic synthesis

Abstract Palladium is widely recognized for its effectiveness in catalyzing various organic transformations. In this study, we synthesized tetrahedral palladium (Pd) nanoparticles anchored on graphene sheets (T‐Pd/graphene) through a solvent‐free process involving thermal decomposition in an environment rich in carbon monoxide at elevated temperatures. The produced Pd nanoparticles, with an average size of 18 nm, were found to be evenly dispersed across the graphene substrate. Leveraging microwave irradiation, the T‐Pd/graphene nanocatalyst demonstrated exceptional catalytic performance, marked by high conversion rates and selectivity in key reactions such as the Suzuki‐Miyaura cross‐coupling and the semi‐hydrogenation of phenylacetylene. Notably, the nanocatalyst exhibited remarkable durability, retaining its catalytic efficiency over five successive recycling rounds without significant loss of activity.