Collaboration of Ni, polyoxometalates and layered double hydroxides: synthesis, characterization, electrochemical and mechanism investigations as nano-catalyst in the Heck coupling reaction

Nickel (Ni) nanoparticles were immobilized on the surface of magnetic MgAl layered double hydroxide intercalated 10-molybdo-2-vanadophosphate (Fe–MgAl/Mo 10 V 2 –Ni) for the first time. The presence of Ni nanoparticles onthe high-surface area Fe–MgAl LDH structure in the presence of Mo 10 V 2 makes this catalyst an ideal option in terms of efficiency and selectivity for Heck coupling reaction. Synergic effects of Mo 10 V 2 and Ni were investigated by an electrochemical technique. Increasing of the ECSA of the catalyst compared to Fe–Mg–Al–Ni leads to enhancement of the catalytic activity and proves the synergic effect. A new catalytic mechanism was introduced for this kind of reaction. The resulting structure and its catalytic behavior were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, ICP-AES, TEM, SEM, EDX, EBSD, XPS, BET, VSM, CV, LSV and zeta potential analyses. More importantly, Fe–MgAl/Mo 10 V 2 –Ni can easily be separated from the reaction mixture using an external magnet and reused for at least four successive runs without any substantial reduction in its catalytic activity.