Pd –MCM-48 materials were synthesized by modified Stöber synthesis in four hours at room temperature. In this procedure using Pd(0) nanoparticles, Na₂[PdCl]₄ and Pd(acac)₂ were used as Pd precursors and Pd containing cubic MCM-48 mesoporous materials were successfully synthesized with metal loadings 1 to ∼5% wt. These materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, Physisorption, and chemisorption studies.

Selected Pd-MCM-48 catalysts were employed for hydrogenation and coupling reactions. These materials provide excellent activity for regio- and chemoselective hydrogenation of olefins with a turnover frequency of 4400 mol/h. At the same time, these catalysts are very reactive for the coupling reactions such as Suzuki, Heck, etc. Pd-MCM-48 provides higher activity and selectivity compared with other reported Pd containing siliceous materials. The Pd-MCM-48 catalyst can be reused more than 10 times with minimal loss of cubic phase catalytic activity.