Abstract

Modified Binh Thuan bentonite catalyst was prepared by exchanging with aqueous solution of PdCl2, giving a catalyst loading of 0.14 mmol of Pd/g (AAS) and surface areas of160.36 m2/g. The Pd2+ - exchanged bentonite effectively catalyzed the Heck carboncarbon cross-coupling reaction between 4-iodotoluene and styrene. The reaction was performed using less than 1 mol% catalyst at 120oC in dimethylformamide (DMF) in the presence of Na2CO3 as a base, affording the cross-coupling products in good conversions (trans-4-methylstilben: 1-phenyl-1-tolylethylene = 7.5 : 1), identified by GC and GC-MS. The catalyst could be facilely separated from the reaction mixture and could be reused in subsequent reaction without significant degradation in activity. It was also observed that the reaction rate was significantly enhanced under microwave irradiation.