Generation of size-controlled gold(0) and palladium(0) nanoclusters inside the nanoporous domains of gel-type functional resins

The functional resin poly-MTEMA-DMAA-MBA (MTEMA, 2-(methylthio)ethylmethacrylate; 4 mol%, DMAA, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, 88 mol%; MBA, N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide, 8 mol%) referred to as MTEMA-DMAA-4-8, behaves as a macromolecular ligand towards PdII and AuIII in water (Pd) and acetonitrile (Au). Mn/resin complexes are easily reduced with NaBH4 in water to M0/resin composites. The swollen polymer framework of MTEMA-DMAA-4-8 is seen to act as a “mold” leading to the production of ca. 2.5 nm nanoclusters for both elements. M0/MTEMA-DMAA-4-8 composites exhibit useful catalytic properties in various chemical transformations, under mild conditions in water.