Polyhedral borane-capped coinage metal nanoparticles as high-performing catalysts for 4-nitrophenol reduction.

Small (<5 nm) gold and silver nanoparticles and their bimetallic counterparts were prepared using the fundamental boron cluster [closo-B10H10]2- as the reducing and stabilizing agent. The resulting carbon-free nanoparticles possess striking activity toward the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, laying the groundwork for a new class of boron polyhedron-stabilized metal nanocatalysts.