Unexpected catalytic activity of Pd(II)-coordinated nucleotides in hydrogenation reduction

Controlled synthesis of noble metal nanocatalysts with desirable catalytic activities remains a great challenge. Inspired by electron-rich functional groups and supramolecular assembly properties of natural nucleotides, herein we propose a versatile approach to construct Pd nanocatalysts through employing seven nucleotides as both electron donors and stabilizers. The catalytic performance of nucleotide-Pd complexes are greatly associated with the chemical structures of nucleobases as well as the number of phosphate groups. Guanosine 5′-triphosphate-Pd complexes possess high activities in the hydrogenation reduction of 4-nitrophenol assisted by NaBH4, with the relative rate constant of 7770 min−1 mM−1 at 25 °C. Pd(II)-coordinated nucleotides are also promising in NaBH4-mediated degradation of organic dyes. This work demonstrates a green and facile process to construct Pd nanocatalysts containing abundant active sites under the assistance by natural nucleotides.