Abstract
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•Method of preparation of 3D mesoporous C3N4 using guanidine precursor and KIT-6 as template via nanotemplating technique.•Pd(OAC)2 functionalized 3D mesoporous C3N4 with excellent textural properties is prepared.•The catalysts showed the best activity for Suzuki coupling between aryl halides with phenylboronic acid derivatives.
We report on the synthesis of mesoporous graphitic C3N4 (MGCN-6) with 3D porous structure and Ia3d symmetry and controllable surface properties through a simple polymerization of an environmentally benign and non-toxic guanidine hydrochloride as a C and N precursor using KIT-6 with variable pore sizes as templates for Suzuki coupling reaction. The pore diameters (3.1–4.2 nm), specific surface areas (207–303 m2 g−1), and the specific pore volumes (0.58–0.71 cm3 g−1) of the MGCN-6 materials are finely controlled by varying the pore size of the templates used. The nano cavities of MGCN-6 with the highest specific surface area and a free amine groups are effectively utilized to chelate with Pd(OAC)2 and applied the prepared catalysts for Suzuki coupling reaction between aryl halides with phenylboronic acid derivatives under very mild and sustainable reaction conditions. The Pd(OAC)2/MGCN-6 is found to be very active and stable and exhibits an excellent reactivity and selectivity for all of substrates regardless of aryl halides with electron-withdrawing and electron donating groups at room temperature. The activity of the Pd(OAC)2/MGCN-6 is much higher than that of non-porous bulk graphitic carbon nitride and 2D mesoporous carbon nitride.