Accepted Manuscript

Green synthesis of palladium nanoparticles using fenugreek tea and their cata-
lytic applications in organic reactions

Koduru Mallikarjuna, Chinna Bathula, Kezia Buruga, Nabeen K. Shrestha,

Yong-Young Noh, Haekyoung Kim

PII: S0167-577X(17)30980-1
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2017.06.081
Reference: MLBLUE 22793

To appear in: Materials Letters

Received Date: 10 May 2017

Revised Date: 13 June 2017
Accepted Date: 16 June 2017

Please cite this article as: K. Mallikarjuna, C. Bathula, K. Buruga, N.K. Shrestha, Y-Y. Noh, H. Kim, Green synthesis
of palladium nanoparticles using fenugreek tea and their catalytic applications in organic reactions, Materials
Letters (2017), doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2017.06.081

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 Green synthesis of palladium nanoparticles using fenugreek tea and

their catalytic applications in organic reactions

Koduru Mallikarjunaa, Chinna Bathulab*, Kezia Burugac, Nabeen K. Shresthab,

Yong-Young Nohb, Haekyoung Kima,*

a
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 712 749, Republic of Korea.
b
Department of Energy and Materials Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, 100-715, Republic of Korea
c
Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Suratkal, 575025, Karnataka, India

*Corresponding author: cdbathula@gmail.com, hkkim@ynu.ac.kr

Abstract

In this communication, we present the fenugreek tea aided green synthesis of Pd

nanoparticles (PdNPs@FT). The synthesized PdNPs were characterized by UV-Visible

spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), small area electron diffraction (SAED),

fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). FT-IR

menifested that polyol and amide groups present in fenugreek may have participated in the

synthesis of palladium nanoparticles. PdNPs@FT exhibited high catalytic activity towards

hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. PdNPs@FT catalysed Suzuki–Miyaura

coupling reaction between bromobenzene and phenyl boronic acid gave desired biphenyl in

excellent yield.

Keywords: Nanoparticles; Green catalyst; Nitrophenol; Suzuki-Miyaura reaction; FTIR.

1. Introduction

Admirable research has been progressed on the utilization of phytochemicals in the field of

green nanoscience and nanotechnology [1-3]. Tea extracted from natural sources are basically

enriched with proteins, phenols, glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids, polysaccharides and

vitamins. These compounds serve as reducing/stabilizing agents, and therefore, aid in

fabrication of nanoparticles [4-7]. Noble and transition metal nanoparticles such as Pt, Pd, Ru,

Au, Ag, Fe, Ni, Co and Cu are widely employed as active catalysts in various synthetic and

industrial processes. Some of the conventional routes for synthesis of metal nanoparticles

include chemical reduction in an aqueous solution or non-aqueous solution, micro-emulsion

method, template method, and microwave-assisted synthesis using hazardous reducing agents

[8, 9]. In harmonization with environment, green synthesis, consisting of environmentally

friendly protocols, for metal nanoparticles has emerged out over the last decade [10]. For

example, synthesis of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) employing biological sources such as

leaves, fruits, roots, honey, coffee, tea, and peel extracts has been reported [11-13]. These

natural products are expected to play efficient role in reduction of metal ions, and formation

of corresponding nanoparticles [14-17]. Fenugreek is an economically significant medicinal

seed, as it contains very high concentrations of the proteins, vitamins and dietary fibers [18].

However, it has not been employed yet for reduction of Pd ions.

Herein, we report the synthesis of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs@FT) by using tea of

fenugreek seeds as green reducing agent. As an example of the functional properties, the

obtained PdNPs@FT were investigated as catalyst for hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol, which

manifested highly catalytic activity. In addition, PdNPs@FT are utilized as a catalyst in

Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction as an alternative to traditionally used Pd complexes to

obtain biphenyl in excellent yield.

2. Experimental Procedure

PdNPs were prepared by stirring 30 ml of 0.01 M PdCl2 with 3 ml of aqueous extract at room

temperature. The reaction mixture gradually turned in to a black indicating the formation of

PdNPs@FT. The progress of the reaction was monitored via UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy.

For the study of catalytic performance of PdNPs@FT on 4-nitrophenol reduction, aqueous

solution of 5 ml of 10 mM NaBH4 and 50 µl of 10 mM 4-nitrophenol was added in a quartz

cuvette, followed by addition of a 20 µl aliquot of PdNPs (1mg/mL in DI water). The time-

dependent UV/Vis absorption spectra were measured at room temperature. Further, to

demonstrate the catalytic application of PdNPs@FT in Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction,

bromobenzene, benzeneboronic acid, PEG-400 and K2CO3 in water were mixed with

PdNPs@FT catalyst in a round bottomed flask, and the mixture was refluxed for 6 hours.

After completion of reaction, the filtrate containing the product was evaporated to obtain

desired biphenyl in excellent yield (96%). The 1H NMR data of the recrystallized product

were indistinguishable to those reported in the literature [19].

3. Result and discussion

3.1 Formation of Pd nanoparticles

The formation of PdNPs@FT was studied by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy Fig. 1. The

reaction media showed a transition in color from dark yellow to black, which indicates the

bioreduction of Pd ions and formation of PdNPs@FT. The completion of reaction is

confirmed by the disappearance of d-d transition band of Pd 2+ (i.e., PdCl2) exhibited by the

reaction mixture at about 480 nm, which suggests the reduction of Pd2+ (d 8 electron

configuration) to Pd0 (d 10 electron configuration).

3.2. Morphology and crystallinity of nanoparticles

FE-SEM images of the synthesized biogenic PdNPs@FT are presented in Fig. 2 (a)

and (b). These images illustrate spherical nanoparticles with diameter ranging 20 to 50 nm.

We also examined particles carefully at the edges by lowering the accelerator voltage. In all

cases, the brighter edges of the PdNPs@FT was observed. The observed phenomenon of

color contrast between edge and central part of the PdNPs@FT indicates the capping of

PdNPs by phyto-chemical moieties. The capping was further confirmed using FT-IR analysis,

which will be discussed in later part. The formation of PdNPs by bioreduction of Pd ions and

their crystal structure was confirmed using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The

XRD pattern of the PdNPs@FT is displayed in Fig. 2(c), showing the peaks at 2-Theta of

40.2º, 46.6º, 68.6º, 81.8º and 86.8º, which correspond to the diffraction from (111), (200),

(220) (311) and (222) planes, respectively. Based on the XRD patterns (JCPDS 05-0681 PDF

file), PdNPs can be indexed to the face centered cubic (fcc). The comparatively highly

intense diffraction peak from (111) planes suggests that the biogenic PdNPs@FT inclined to

develop into particles with planes bound by the lowest energy (111) lattice plane. This

growth indicates that crystals grown on the (111) planes were bottled-up by the selective

adsorption of bioorganic moieties onto the (111) facet [20, 21]. Further, SAED pattern (Fig.

2(d)) shows the characteristic diffraction ring patterns, which are in good aggrement with the

XRD patterns.

3.3 Surface properties and catalytic performance

FT-IR spectroscopy is used to elucidate the role of fenugreek tea in the surface adsorbed

biomolecules on PdNPs@FT (Fig. 3a). Peak at 3418 cm−1 is attributed to N–H stretching, H

bonded O-H vibrations of amides and polyphenol groups. Peaks at 2922 and 2848 cm−1

represents asymmetric and symmetric streching C-H vibrations. The band at 2348 cm-1 is due
to the coordination of C-N groups of proteins with the metal atoms at the surface of the

PdNPs@FT. The peaks between 1738-1170 cm−1 arises from the N-H bending, C=O and C-

OH stretching vibrations of amides, carboxylic groups of protein/polysaccharide in the

fenugreek tea [22]. This FT-IR spectrum looks more or less simlar to that of the tea extract

(Fig. 3b), suggesting the encapsulation of PdNPs by phyto-chemical moieties of the tea

extract. This encapsulation probably provided excellent stabilizing against agglomeration of

PdNPs.

Catalytic behavior of the PdNPs@FT was investigated through reduction of 4-

nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of NaBH4. The kinetics of reaction was

monitored using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. When NaBH4 was added to 4-nitrophenol,

the solution turned yellow and produced an absorption peak at 400 nm in the UV-Vis spectra

(Fig. 4a), suggesting the formation of 4-nitrophenolate anion. The addition of nanoparticles

demonstrated a noticeable decrease in absorption peak at 400 nm. Meanwhile, instantaneous

appearance of a reduction product (4-aminophenol) was monitored by the emergence of two

new peaks at 300 nm and 230 nm [22, 23]. The results revealed that the PdNPs@FT

successfully catalyzed the reduction reaction completely within 5 minutes. A continuous

decrease in the peak intensity at 400 nm illustrates the utilization of 4-nitrophenol, and the

progress of the reaction. However, no proportional increase in the aminophenol peak intensity

is observed, which is mainly due to the difference in molar extinction coefficients of 4-

nitrophenol and 4-aminophenol. The catalysis by the PdNPs@FT is probably as a result of

hydrogen transport shuttle between the NaBH4 and 4-nitrophenol. In this shuttling,

PdNPs@FT adsorbs hydrogen from the NaBH4, and release it efficiently during the reduction

reaction.

On the other hand, Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction is most widely used protocol in

most challenging C-C bond formation reaction, and has significance in organic synthesis.
Traditionally, Pd(PPh3)4 is used as catalyst in this coupling reaction. However, owing to the

high cost and complex procedure in catalysis, PdNPs obtained from various techniques have

been explored as an alternative (see Table S1 in SI section). In this work, the coupling

reaction between bromobenzene and phenyl boronic acid was catalyzed by the PdNPs@FT

(Fig. 4b), which yielded desired biphenyl in excellent yield. The catalytic performance is

highly competitive to the previously reported PdNPs, and found even better in some cases

(Table S1).

4. Conclusion

In summary, we have successfully demonstrated the environmental friendly synthesis route of

PdNPs@FT as a green catalyst. Phyto-chemical moieties within fenugreek tea not only

contributes to effective reduction of Pd(II) to PdNPs, but also aids in capping in order to

provide excellent stabilizing against agglomeration. The PdNPs@FT grew with their surfaces

inclined by the lowest energy (111) facets. PdNPs@FT displayed high catalytic activity in

nitrophenol reduction, and in Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions. The green synthetic route

presented here to synthesize greener catalysts can be beneficial in food or pharmaceutical

industries. Further exploration of PdNPs@FT in organic synthesis is currently under progress.

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 Figure captions

Fig. 1. (a) UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy of during synthesis of PdNPs@FT. The spectrum

of PdNPs@FT (PdCl2 + Fenugreek seed extract) was recorded after 3 hours of reaction.

Fig. 2. (a) and (b) Different magnification of SEM images of PdNPs@FT, (c) XRD patterns

of PdNPs@FT, and (d) SAED pattern of PdNPs@FT.

Fig. 3. (a) FTIR spectrum of PdNPs@FT, and (b) FTIR spectrum of Fenugreek seed extract.

Fig. 4. (a) UV-Vis spectra of catalytic kinetics of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in presence

of NaBH4 by PdNPs@FT (Inset is the scheme for reduction reaction). (b) Schematic

presentation of Suzuki cross coupling reaction between bromobenzene and phenyl boronic

acid catalyzed by PdNPs@FT.

Fig.1
Fig. 2(a), (b), (c), (d),
Fig. 3
Fig. 4(a) and (b)
 HIGHLIGHTS

• Synthesis of PdNPs@FTby the aid of fenugreek tea as green reducing agent is

studied.
• Pd NPs@FT are found to be stablized against agglomeration due to capping with tea
extract.
• Pd NPs@FT demonstrating high catalytic activity towards hydrogenation and
Suzuki–Miyaura coupling is observed.
 Green Synthesis of Palladium Nanoparticles using Fenugreek Tea and

Their Catalytic Applications in Organic Reactions

Koduru Mallikarjuna, Chinna Bathula, Kezia Buruga, Nabeen K. Shrestha,

Yong-Young Noh, Haekyoung Kim

Graphical abstract