MCM-41 silica, whose pores have been expanded by post-synthesis treatment with N,N-dimethyidecylamine, was used as an inexpensive high-surface area, large-pore support for rapid preparation of monodispersed palladium nanoparticles. The nanoparticles, initially prepared at room temperature, showed remarkable thermal stability as their size increased from 2.8 +/- 0.8 to only 3.4 +/- 0.8 nm after calcination at 500 degrees C in air followed by reduction in H-2 at the same temperature. These materials were found to be highly active and stable catalysts for the Suzuki coupling reaction with virtually no leaching. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc.