Mechanochemically modified hydrazine reduction method for the synthesis of nickel nanoparticles and their catalytic activities in the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction

The commonly used hydrazine reduction method for the synthesis of Ni nanoparticles was integrated with the mechanochemical treatment of the nickel hydroxide precursors to modify the structural and catalytic attributes of the as-prepared metallic nickel materials. The precursors and the nanoparticles were studied by X-ray diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering as well as scanning electron microscopy. The changes in catalytic activities were followed in the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction between iodobenzene and phenylboronic acid and correlated with structural changes resulting from mechanochemical pretreatment.