Extremely small, monodisperse, and spheric maghemite (γ-Fe2O3, 2–3 nm) and manganese (4–7 nm), cobalt (3–5 nm), and zinc ferrite (5–7 nm) nanocrystals are directly accessible on a large scale starting from inexpensive metal powders and octanoic acid by thermolysis in a high-boiling solvent. Bigger particle size is obtainable by prolonged reaction time according to the Ostwald ripening principle. The superparamagnetic nanocrystals and their assembly have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, magnetic measurements, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

Mesoporous organosilica materials with different contents of bistrialkoxysilyl imidazolium salts in the framework were synthesized by a one‐step synthesis. Textural characterization of the materials confirmed that the morphology and surface properties of the imidazolium‐bridged organosilicas depended critically on the amount of organic groups in the framework, whereas solid‐state NMR characterization showed that the imidazolium fragments were integrated covalently into the framework. Further reaction of these materials with Pd(OAc)2, followed by reduction with NaBH4 yielded palladium nanoparticles stabilized in the mesoporous organosilicas. The stabilizing effect of the imidazolium cations and the mesostructure contributed to the high activity, selectivity, and stability of the palladium nanoparticles and allowed olefin hydrogenation under mild reaction conditions.

A phosphonic acid functionalized triphenylphosphine rhodium complex was synthesized and grafted onto neat superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. The material was investigated by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, XRD, N2‐physisorption analyses, and TEM measurements. The obtained hybrid material could be used as a catalyst for the hydrogenation of alkenes with excellent yields and a broad substrate scope. The catalyst can be reused ten times without any loss of activity. According to the results from X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, it is likely that formation of Rh nanoparticles occurs during the reaction.

The amino moiety of an aminopyrimidinyl phosphane allows rapid functionalization of the ligand with a silylated side chain containing a urea linker for catalyst heterogenization. The urea group causes the resulting ligand to undergo spontaneous CH activation at the pyrimidinyl site when reacted with (C6H5CN)2PdCl2 in CH2Cl2. Grafting of the resulting zwitterionic palladacycle complex onto siliceous supports leads to highly active hetereogeneous catalysts for the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling. Leaching tests proved that the catalysts obtained this way are truly heterogeneous.

SummaryA Mobil Composition of Matter (MCM)-41 type mesoporous silica material containing N-propylacridone groups has been successfully prepared by co-condensation of an appropriate organic precursor with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) under alkaline sol–gel conditions. The resulting material was fully characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2-adsorption–desorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), IR and UV–vis spectroscopy, as well as 29Si and 13C CP-MAS NMR techniques. The material features a high inner surface area and a highly ordered two-dimensional hexagonal pore structure. The fluorescence properties of the organic chromophore can be tuned via complexation of its carbonyl group with scandium triflate, which makes the material a good candidate for solid state sensors and optics. The successful synthesis of highly ordered MCM materials through co-condensation was found to be dependent on the chemical interaction of the different precursors.