Hybrid Organic–Platinum Nanoparticles for Hydrogenation Reactions

Hollow organic–inorganic hybrid nanoparticles with expressed catalytic activity in hydrogenation reactions are presented. They are synthesized via a mild reduction of platinum salts with pentaerythritol tetrakis mercaptopropionate (PETMP) in combination with mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) or mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) in aqueous medium. The reduction of the platinum salts initiates the formation of a disulfide polymer, which attaches to the Pt-nanoparticles, simultaneously leading to hollow hybrid particles with small platinum clusters located on their surface. The catalytic activity of the platinum clusters was demonstrated by the reduction of nitrophenols.