Merlin L. Bruening, Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University Selective Catalysis by Nanoparticles in Multilayer Polyelectrolyte Films Merlin L. Bruening, Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University Selectivity as a Function of Nanoparticle Size: Catalytic nanoparticles in multilayer polyelectrolyte films show remarkable selectivity for hydrogenation of monosubstituted double bonds over di or trisubstituted double bonds. However, the extent of selectivity varies dramatically with nanoparticle size, which is a function of film-formation conditions. The smallest nanoparticles show selectivities that are an order of magnitude higher than those of Wilkinson’s catalyst. krelative = 2.6 krelative = 1 krelative = 240 krelative = 1 OH = Pd nanoparticle OH OH OH = polyanion Alumina Alumina H2 H2 H2 H2 = polyamine OH OH OH OH Selective reduction of nitro groups in catalytic membranes: Deposition of polyelectrolyte/nanoparticle films in porous materials yields catalytic membranes. The nanoparticles allow reduction of aromatic nitro groups in the presence of other reducible and non-reducible functional groups, and control over flow rate determines whether the product is predominantly the amino or nitroso compound. NO2 NH2 NO R or + NaBH4 R R