Water-soluble nanostructured palladium catalysts: synthesis, characterization and application for nitrile hydrolysis

2,2'-bipyridine end-functionalized Pd-PEG macrocomplexs were synthesized by a molecular approach and used to access Pd-nanoparticles stabilized by the nitrogen donor atoms of the polymer. The water soluble Pd-nanopartricles were successfully applied to hydrate nitriles to the corresponding amide in neat water.