Preparation of rhenium nanoparticles via pulsed-laser decomposition and catalytic studies

Rhenium (Re) nanoparticles have been synthesized by pulsed-laser decomposition of ammonium perrhenate (NH4ReO4) or dirhenium decacarbonyl (Re-2(CO)(10)) in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as capping agent, in both aqueous and organic media. Preliminary studies showed that the MPA-capped Re nanoparticles are capable of catalyzing the isomerization of 10-undecen-1-ol to internal alkenols via long chain migration of the C=C double bond at ca. 200 degrees C. A one-pot synthesis of graphite-coated Re nanoparticles has also been achieved by pulsed-laser decomposition of Re-2(CO)(10), due to photo-induced catalytic graphitization of the phenyl groups of PPh3 on the surface of rhenium nanoparticles. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.