Competing commercial catalysts: Unprecedented catalyst activity and stability of Mizoroki-Heck reaction in a continuous packed bed reactor

Main obstacle for adopting continuous processes as a standard technology Mizoroki-Heck reaction usually lies in its specific mechanism. Here we present an important step forward answering the challenges unraveled through comprehensive study that provides deeper understanding on reaction, particular case when iodobenzene and butyl acrylate react packed bed reactor presence of Pd Supported Ionic Liquid Catalyst (SILCA). On-line UV–VIS spectrometry supported by ICP-OES, TEM XPS measurements were carried out catalyst leaching was minimized. Finally, simple flow process proposed resulting high catalytic activity (up to 1470 molArI molPd−1h−1) reaching productivity range 12,000 16,000 molPd−1 thus competing with performance commercial catalysts.