Abstract:
Amyloids are highly ordered nanofibrils and their tensile strength is similar to that of steel, which makes them resistant to extreme pH and temperature. Based on this rationale, we demonstrate a facile synthesis of palladium, copper, platinum, gold and silver nanocomposites using -Synuclein (-Syn) fibrils as a template. We showed that an -Syn-fibril-palladium nanoparticles (-Syn-PdNPs) composite can be used as a heterogeneous catalyst in C-H bond activation and the electrooxidation of ethanol. The study demonstrated -Syn-PdNPs to be a superior heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of pharmaceutically valuable benzofuran, naphthofuran, coumarin and N-arylindole via C-H activation. Further, the electrooxidation of ethanol using -Syn-PdNPs displayed an electrochemically active surface area of 160.6 m(2) g(-1), which is much higher than the previously reported values for supported Pd nanocomposites.