Pd(II) conjugated chitosan nanofibre mats for application in Heck cross-coupling reactions.

Pd(II)-chitosan composite nanofibres of 62 +/- 9 nm diameter are efficient catalysts for Heck cross-coupling reactions. Using a model reaction of iodo-benzene and n-butyl acrylate, we demonstrate that this material can be used as a recyclable catalytic support with a very low loading of palladium (0.17 mol% Pd).