Bimetallic nanosized solids with acid and redox properties for catalytic activation of C–C and C–H bonds

A new approach is presented to form self-supported bimetallic nanosized solids with acid and redox catalytic properties. They are water-, air- and H(2)-stable, and are able to activate demanding C–C and C–H reactions. A detailed mechanistic study on the formation of the Ag–Fe bimetallic system shows that a rapid redox-coupled sequence between Ag(+), O(2) (air) and Fe(2+) occurs, giving monodisperse Ag nanoparticles supported by O-bridged diatomic Fe(3+) triflimides. The system can be expanded to Ag nanoparticles embedded within a matrix of Cu(2+), Bi(3+) and Yb(3+) triflimide.