Novel particles and method of producing the same.

Metal nanoparticles and methods for the prodn. thereof. The novel nanoparticles having an av. particle size of 1 to 10 nm and comprising at least one protective group bonded to metal, in particular copper particles, group being derived from a monomeric thiol. They can be produced by reducing, in the presence of a reducing agent, dithioester monomers to the corresponding thiols while simultaneously reducing a copper precursor to the corresponding metal to yield amorphous or nanocryst. copper nanoparticles. The novel metal nanoparticles can be used for producing semiconductive or conductive thin layers on a substrate. [on SciFinder(R)]