Polymer-supported palladium perfluorooctanesulfonate [Pd(OPf)2]: A recyclable and ligand-free palladium catalyst for copper-free Sonogashira coupling reaction in water under aerobic conditions

Amberlyst A-21, a kind of well-known and cheap polymeric material, was treated with palladium perfluorooctanesulfonate [Pd(OPf)2] giving a reagent with a palladium loading of 1.94 (wt%). The polymer-supported fluorous palladium catalyzes the highly efficient Sonogashira coupling reaction in water. The reactions can be performed under copper- and ligand-free conditions in an air atmosphere. The palladium catalyst is easily separated and can be reused several times without a significant loss of catalytic activity.