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Abstract A simple and environmentally benign technology for synthesizing ultrasmall Cu^Inanoparticles (NPs) on the surface of the food additive hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and their application in completely organic solvent‐free tandem alkyne‐azide cycloaddition reactions were reported. The NP catalyst was thoroughly characterized by high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis for its morphology, particle size distribution, chemical composition, and oxidation state analyses. The NP catalyst was highly efficient, affording products in 10–45 min. All products were obtained in high purity by simple filtration, obviating organic solvents from the reaction set‐up to product isolation. The methodology is general and scalable as validated by a broad substrate scope. 

Abstract The nanomaterial containing amphiphile‐stabilized mononuclear Cu(II) is developed. The material is characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, such as X‐ray absorption spectrscopy (XAS), high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), UV‐vis, and infrared spectroscopies. Since the structural data for the amphiphile‐bound Cu(II) center is not available, a theoretical model based on DFT calculations is employed. The analyses based on NMR spectroscopic data, including the isotope labeling, support that the tertiary amide group of the amphiphile binds to the Cu surface. Likewise, the bond distances found by XAS spectroscopy agree with the theoretical model. Time‐dependent DFT studies predict that the low‐lying excited state has a dominant ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer (LMCT) character. Cu(II) changes to Cu(I) assisted by the LMCT excitation upon visible light irradiation, generating robust catalytically active species. The catalytic activity for domino azidation‐[3+2] cycloaddition reactions in water is investigated. The catalytic protocol is applicable on various substrates, and the catalytic material is stable under ambient conditions for up to three months.