Synthesis of small gold nanoparticles: Au(I) disproportionation catalyzed by a persulfurated coronene dendrimer

Gold nanoparticles with average diameter of 1.0 nm and narrow size distribution can be easily obtained by disproportionation of Au+ ions, in the presence of a persulfurated coronene dendrimer that favors encounters between Au+ ions and protects the resulting small nanoparticles from further aggregation.