Abstract
This work describes the synthesis of ultra-small non-crystalline and non-metallic iron-based nanoparticles in solution from easily accessible commercial products in mild conditions. These colloidal suspensions were further used to generate well-defined solids containing metallic iron or iron oxide NPs. While classical magnetic and crystalline Fe nanoparticles are inactive in alkene hydrosilylation, such original NPs were active in 1-octene hydrosilylation with 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptamethyltrisiloxane (MD'M) showing that the non-crystallinity and the organometallic character of the starting Fe NPs are an asset to generate a specific catalytic activity.