Ruthenium nanoparticles stabilized by N-Heterocyclic Carbenes ligands, N,N-di(tert-butyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (L1) or 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (L2), were easily synthesized by decomposition of [(Ru(COD)(COT)] in mild conditions. The nanoparticles have been characterized by TEM, NMR, IR and WAXS.Reactivity studies carried out with these nanoparticles show that they display a different reactivity for CO oxidation in the solid state but a comparable one for styrene hydrogenation in solution. Using 13C labeled carbene ligands and 13CO as a probe molecule, solid state NMR studies evidenced the strong binding of the NHC ligands to the surface of ruthenium and allow us to propose a location for them, explaining the different reactivities.This work represents an attempt at the full molecular characterization of the surface of catalytically active nanoparticles and it has been recently accepted for publication.1 1 P. Lara, O. Rivada-Wheelaghan, S. Conejero, R. Poteau, K. Philippot, B. Chaudret, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. accepted (VIP, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201106348).

N-heterocyclic carbenes as ligands for the stabilization of ruthenium nanoparticles: Ligand location and surface chemistry

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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