A facile synthesis of dispersable NaCl nanocrystals.

During the classical malonic ester synthesis, sodium chloride is eliminated. Sodium diethyl malonate was reacted either with phenacyl chloride or acetyl chloride, both in toluene solution and without solvent. NaCl nanocrystals with a size of 100-300 nm were obtained that could be easily redispersed in organic solvents if phenacyl chloride was used as reagent. The dispersion in dichloromethane was stable for at least two weeks without sedimentation or agglomeration.