The synthesis and characterization of a group of new composites, namely, gold nanoparticles-cored dendrimers (Au-NCDs) were reported. These materials were obtained by the reduction of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate phase-transferred into organic phase in the presence of poly(benzyl ether) alcohol dendrons with generation from 1 to 3. These materials, possessing nanometer-sized gold particles at the core and dendritic wedges radially connected to the core by Au-O bonds, were analyzed by UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (Fr-IR). The effects of generation of dendrons, concentration of precursor and reduction agent were discussed. A possible mechanism of the formation of Au-NCDs was proposed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.