Origin of the excellent catalytic activity of Pd loaded on ultra-stable Y zeolites in Suzuki–Miyaura reactions

Suzuki–Miyaura reactions were performed over Pd loaded on (ultra-stable Y) USY zeolites prepared by steam treatment of NH4–Y. We found that the catalytic activity of Pd increased significantly with steam treatment of NH4–Y when 6% H2 was applied before and during the reactions. For instance, a TON of 13,000,000 was obtained in the reaction between bromobenzene and phenylboronic acid in 1.5 h. Pd K-edge and Pd L3-edge X-ray absorption fine structure analyses revealed the formation of atomic Pd with a cationic character. The catalytic activity of Pd/USY prepared under different steam-treatment conditions was in good correlation with the strong Brønsted acid sites induced by the extra-framework Al. Based on the catalytic performance data, the structure of Pd, and acidic analysis of the support, atomic Pd anchored to the strong Brønsted acid sites of the USY zeolite was proposed to be the active species.