1,2,3-Ferrocenyl triazole ligands generated by click reactions in dendrimers bind Pd(OAc)2 with a systematic one-to-one stoichiometry as monitored by titration using the ferrocenyl redox sensor attached to the triazole ring, and the dendritic PdII complexes formed are best reduced by methanol to form palladium nanoparticles of designed types and sizes that show excellent efficiency and selectivity in olefin hydrogenation.