Vol.:(0123456789) Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms and Catalysis https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-018-01526-0 1 3 Effects of medium and nickel salt source in the synthesis and catalytic performance of nano‑sized nickel in the Suzuki‑Miyaura cross‑coupling reaction Adél Anna Ádám 1,2  · Márton Szabados 1,2  · Katalin Musza 1,2  · Péter Bélteky 3  · Zoltán Kónya 3,4  · Ákos Kukovecz 3  · Pál Sipos 2,5  · István Pálinkó 1,2 Received: 29 September 2018 / Accepted: 21 December 2018 © Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2019 Abstract In this contribution, the influence of the origin of the nickel salts and the applied temperature were investigated on the preparation of Ni nanoparticles by the reduc- tion of hydrazine. The nanoparticles obtained were characterized by X-ray diffrac- tometry, dynamic light scattering as well as transmission and scanning electron microscopies. Several nickel salts proved to be applicable; however, only the bro- mide and iodide nickel halides could be transformed into metallic nickel form under room temperature. Their catalytic activities were also tested in the cross-coupling reaction between iodobenzene and phenylboronic acid, and it was found that most catalysts performed superbly. An experimentally supported explanation for the varying catalytic activities of Ni nanoparticles derived from various halide salts is offered. Furthermore, an unusual crystal rearrangement was observed during the catalytic tests. Keywords Nickel nanoparticles · Varying Ni salts · Characterization · Suzuki- Miyaura cross-coupling reaction Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s1114 4-018-01526-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * István Pálinkó palinko@chem.u-szeged.hu 1 Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, Szeged 6720, Hungary 2 Material and Solution Structure Research Group, Institute of Chemistry, University of Szeged, Aradi Vértanúk tere 1, Szeged 6720, Hungary 3 Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, University of Szeged, Rerrich B. tér 1, Szeged 6720, Hungary 4 MTA-SZTE Reaction Kinetics and Surface Chemistry Research Group, Rerrich B. tér 1, Szeged 6720, Hungary 5 Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 7, Szeged 6720, Hungary