N-heterocyclic monodentate ligands as stabilizing agents for catalytically active Pd-nanoparticles

Highlights • Simple pyridine derivatives were tested as stabilizing agents for Pd nanoparticles. • Stability of PdNPs depends on the ligand basicity. • 3–5 nm nanoparticles were obtained after optimization of reaction conditions. • Synthesized PdNPs catalyze the reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline.