N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Modified Au–Pd Alloy Nanoparticles and Their Application as Biomimetic and Heterogeneous Catalysts

The preparation of water-soluble, N-heterocyclic-carbene-stabilized Au-Pd alloy nanoparticles by a straightforward ligand exchange process is presented. Extensive analysis revealed excellent size retention and stability over years in water. The alloy nanoparticles were applied as biomimetic catalysts for aerobic oxidation of d-glucose, for which monometallic Au and Pd nanoparticles showed no or negligible activity. The alloy nanoparticles were further applied as titania-supported heterogeneous catalysts for the mild hydrogenation of nitroarenes and the semihydrogenation of 1,2-diphenylacetylene with a solvent-dependent selectivity switch between E- and Z-stilbene.