Colloidal metal dispersion, and a colloidal metal complex

A polymer-protected colloidal metal dispersion comprising:

• (a) a polar dispersion medium selected from the group consisting of water, a mixture of water and at least one lower alcohol and a mixture of water and a water-miscible ether;
• (b) colloidal particles of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of metals belonging to Groups Ib, VIIb and VIII of the Periodic Table, said colloidal particles having an average size of less than 500 .ANG. being dispersed in said dispersion medium;
• and
• (c) a protective polymer adsorbed on each of said colloidal particles;
• said protective polymer comprising 1 to 100 mol percent, based on the total of units (i), (ii) and (iii), of units (i) represented by the formula [I] ##STR39## wherein R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, a hydroxyl group, ##STR40## --CO--R and --O--R', wherein
• R is selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and --(CH.sub.2).sub.n1 --X.sub.n2 --(CH.sub.2).sub.n3 --Y.sub.n4 --(CH.sub.2).sub.n5 --CO--R.sup.7,
• wherein
• X and Y are each independently selected from the group consisting of --O-- and --NH--,
• R.sup.7 is selected from the group consisting of --NH--NH.sub.2, --A--R.sup.8 and --NH.sub.2,
• wherein
• A is selected from the group consisting of --O-- and --S--, and
• R.sup.8 is selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group and a substituted or unsubstituted succinimido group,
• n1, n3 and n5 each independently represent an integer of 0 to 6, and
• n2 and n4 each independently represent an integer of 0 or 1, and
• R' has the same meaning as R, and
• R.sup.2 represents --(CH.sub.2).sub.n1' --X'.sub.n2' --(CH.sub.2).sub.n3' --Y'.sub.n4' --(CH.sub.2).sub.n5' --CO--R.sup.7'
• wherein
• X', Y', R7', n1', n2', n3', n4' and n5' respectively have the same meanings as X, Y, R.sup.7, n1, n2, n3, n4 and n5;
• 0to 99 mol percent, based on the total of units (i), (ii) and (iii), of units (ii) represented by the formula [II] ##STR41## wherein R.sup.3 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, a hydroxyl group, ##STR42## --CO--R and --O--R' wherein
• R and R' are as defined above, and
• R.sup.4 represents --(CH.sub.2).sub.n1" --X".sub.n2" --(CH.sub.2).sub.n3" --Y".sub.n4" --(CH.sub.2).sub.n5" --CO--R.sup.9
• wherein
• X", Y", n1",n2", n3", n4" and n5" respectively have the same meanings as X, Y, n1, n2, n3, n4 and n5, and
• R.sup.9 represents --A'--R.sup.10,
• wherein
• A' has the same meaning as A, and
• R.sup.10 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group and a substituted or unsubstituted succinimido group;
• and
• 0to 99 mol percent, based on the total of units (i), (ii) and (iii), of units (iii) represented by the formula [III] ##STR43## wherein R.sup.5 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, a hydroxyl group, ##STR44## --CO--R and --O--R' wherein
• R and R' are as defined above, and
• R.sup.6 is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group ##STR45## --CO--R and --O--R' wherein
• R and R' are as defined above;
• provided that
• where
• R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, R.sup.2 is --CO--NH.sub.2 and the proportion of units (ii) is 0 mol percent, R.sup.6 is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, --CO--R and --O--R';
• where
• R.sup.7 is --NH--NH.sub.2, the --NH--NH.sub.2 groups are unmodified, or part or all of the --NH--NH.sub.2 groups are modified to form --N.sub.3 groups;
• and
• where
• R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, the proportions of units (i), (ii) and (iii) are respectively 1 to 95 mol percent, 0 to 90 mol percent and 5 to 99 mol percent, based on the total of units (i), (ii) and (iii).