Catalytic applications of β-cyclodextrin/palladium nanoparticle thin film obtained from oil/water interface in the reduction of toxic nitrophenol compounds and the degradation of azo dyes

A supramolecular catalyst of Pd/β-cyclodextrin thin film is synthesized via a facile and one-pot procedure at an oil–water interface. Macrocyclic oligosaccharides of cyclodextrins with glucose units have a wide range of applications due to their hydrophobic and chiral interior. Due to the ability of this supramolecular catalyst to form inclusion complexes with small organic molecules, the as-synthesized catalyst was applied for the reduction of toxic nitroaromatic compounds (p, o, m-nitrophenol and 4-Cl-2-nitrophenol) and the degradation of harmful azo dyes (methyl orange and bismarck brown) with considerable results. This investigation illustrates the change of the catalyst properties in the presence of molecular receptors attached to the catalyst surface.