Silica hybrid material containing Pd–NHC complex as heterogeneous catalyst for Mizoroki–Heck reactions

A silica hybrid material containing palladium-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes was prepared by the sol–gel transformation of a molecular triethoxysilylated Pd–NHC complex. The material showed high activity as heterogeneous catalyst in Mizoroki–Heck reaction of aryl bromides and -iodides with styrene and methyl acrylate and could be re-used in at least five reaction cycles with unchanged catalytic properties.