Synthesis of monodisperse heptanol stabilized ruthenium nanoparticles. Evidence for the presence of surface hydrogens

The decomposition of Ru(cod)(cot) (1; cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, cot = 1,3,5-cyclooctatriene) under an H, atmosphere (3 bars) in pure heptanol produces crystalline monodisperse nanoparticles of 3 nm mean size characterized by TEM and WAXS techniques. Solution NMR studies demonstrate the presence of surface hydrogens due to the synthesis process and suggest a fast exchange between free and coordinated heptanol molecules.