The first example of metal nanoparticles stabilized in aqueous medium for the catalytic hydrogenation of methyl linoleate is reported. Contrary to classical rhodium stabilizers such as PVP, PVA or HEA16Cl, cyclodextrin-based polycarboxylates prove to be efficient stabilizers for rhodium nanoparticles which show high catalytic activities under mild experimental conditions. This activity enhancement clearly demonstrates the beneficial effect of both the grafting of the ß-cyclodextrin onto the polymer backbone and the amount of grafted ß-cyclodextrin per polymer chain.
