Visual Observation of Redistribution and Dissolution of Palladium During the Suzuki–Miyaura Reaction

Abstract

Now you see it, now you don't: A specially designed reactor that heats only a small area of Pd foil during a Suzuki-Miyaura coupling permits observation of the surface changes during the reaction. Dissolution of Pd occurs only in the heated zone, and only in the presence of aryl iodide, whereas deposition of Pd occurs preferentially on the unheated zones adjacent to the reactive zone. SEM and XPS are employed to probe the surface before and after reaction.