A graphene based composite with copper nanoparticles (Cu–G) has been synthesized and used as catalyst for N-arylation and O-arylation. The structure and composition of the nanocomposite have been characterized by TEM, AFM, Raman and XPS. The catalytic activity of the Cu–G has been tested for the N-arylation of N–H heterocycles using arylboronic acids and the O-arylation of phenols using aryl halides. The catalytic N-arylation produces N-aryl heterocyles and the catalytic O-arylation produces diaryl ethers, under mild reaction conditions with excellent yields and selectivities. The developed catalyst is air-stable, inexpensive, easy to prepare, easy to recover by simple filtration and can be reused without appreciable loss of activity.

This review summarizes the progress made essentially in the last fifteen years in the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction by heterogeneous palladium catalysis in water as the sole solvent.

A graphene based composite with silver nanoparticles has been synthesized via a simple chemical route and its catalytic activity has been tested for multi-component reactions and click reaction in a one-pot approach. This silver–graphene nanocomposite shows excellent catalytic activity at room temperature for three-component couplings between aldehydes, alkynes and amines (A³-coupling) and one-pot synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole via click reaction between in situ generated azides (derived from anilines or amines) and terminal acetylenes. This solid silver–graphene catalyst has been characterized by TEM, Raman, XRD and UV-Visible absorption spectra. The developed catalyst is air-stable, inexpensive, easy to prepare and can be facilely recovered and reused five times without significant decrease in activity and selectivity.