General method of preparation of mesoporous M/Si3N4 nano-composites via a non-aqueous sol–gel route

We report a general method for the preparation of transition-metal silicon nitride nanocomposites; for example, mesoporous Pd–Si3N4 nanocomposite materials with high surface area were prepared by pyrolysis of a silicon palladium imide–chloride complex which was synthesized by reaction of silicon diimide gel with palladium chloride. These porous nanocomposites catalyse organic reactions.