Gold nanoparticles supported by imidazolium-based porous organic polymers for nitroarene reduction

Abstract

Two imidazolium-based porous organic polymers (Im-POP-1 and Im-POP-2) were synthesized through the Yamamoto reaction of different molar ratios of 1,3-bis(4-bromophenyl)imidazolium bromide and tetrakis(4-bromophenyl)methane, subsequent anion exchange with HAuCl₄ and reduction with NaBH₄ produced well-dispersed gold nanoparticles (NPs), Au@Im-POP-1 and Au@Im-POP-2. These NPs possess a small size and narrow size distribution, their application in the reduction of nitroarenes was evaluated, and the reduction process was tracked by ¹³C NMR experiments for reaction mechanism studies. In comparison with gold NPs supported by a non-ionic analogue from the Yamamoto reaction of tetrakis(4-bromophenyl)methane (Au@POP-TPM), Au@Im-POP-2 exhibits high catalytic activity, good selectivity of aniline and superior recyclability in nitrobenzene reduction. The gold NPs in Au@Im-POP-2 increase slightly after four consecutive reaction runs, while an apparent agglomeration of NPs in Au@POP-TPM was observed after the second run. This research provides a new type of support for the stabilization of gold NPs and for the improvement of catalytic performances.