Aggregates of the pentacenequinone derivative as reactors for the preparation of Ag@Cu2O core-shell NPs: an active photocatalyst for Suzuki and Suzuki type coupling reactions.

Aggregates of the pentacenequinone derivative 1 act as reactors and stabilizers for rapid and facile preparation of Ag@Cu2O core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous medium. The in situ generated Ag@Cu2O core-shell hybrid materials enabled efficient visible light harvesting to catalyse the palladium free Suzuki-Miyaura and Suzuki type cross coupling reactions at room temperature.