The synthesis of ruthenium nanoparticles (RuNPs) using secondary phosphine oxides (SPOs) as ligands is reported. These easily accessible ligands allow the formation of small nanoparticles in the size range of 1-2 nm which display a high efficiency for hydrogenation of aromatics with TOFs up to 2700 mol h-1.
![Secondary phosphine oxides as pre-ligands for nanoparticle stabilization](https://www.iciq.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Secondary-phosphine-oxides_595.gif)