The invention relates to phase transfers of nanoparticles and to a catalysis using said nanoparticles. The aim of the invention is to facilitate a transfer of nanoparticles from an organic solution to an inorganic, especially, aqueous solution. To this end, a generically describable substance class, for example the commercially available 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), which is for example dissolved in water, is added to the organic solution in sufficient amounts. This measure has the effect that the nanoparticles are readily transferred in a one-step process from the organic phase (in each case in the top section) to the inorganic phase (in each case in the lower section) in the sample container.