Boosting Suzuki coupling reaction via pore expanding and palladium-zinc alloying.

A palladium-zinc alloy nanoparticles decorated nitrogen-doped porous carbon catalyst (PdZn-NC) was synthesized and utilized for Suzuki coupling reaction. The alloying palladium (Pd) with zinc (Zn) and pore expanding are realized simultaneously. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental studies reveal that the alloying Pd with Zn can lower the energy barrier in Suzuki coupling reaction.