Investigating Support Effects of Melamine Cyanurate (MCA) through Heterogenous Pd Catalyst Design

Abstract

This research explores the structural and catalytic implications of using melamine cyanurate (MCA), a supramolecular hydrogen-bonded framework, as a novel support material for heterogeneous palladium catalysts. Palladium nanoparticles were supported on MCA using both sol immobilization and impregnation–reduction methods, with additional samples incorporating a sulfur-containing ligand (MTT) to probe surface interactions. Structural, compositional, and morphological analyses were performed using XRD, XPS, TEM, and TGA. Catalyst performance was assessed using the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. While palladium was successfully incorporated with small particle sizes, MCA-supported catalysts demonstrated low catalytic activity and significant evidence of support degradation under basic reaction conditions. These findings suggest that while MCA offers favorable nanoparticle dispersion and tunability, its structural instability under certain conditions limits its application as a robust catalyst support. Further optimization of reaction conditions and support modifications are proposed to improve its viability.