Catalytic process and systems

A process is provided for conducting or catalyzing a chemical reaction on a surface by depositing on the surface an adherent monolayer of positively charged polymer particles containing an active agent distributed throughout the polymer and contacting the deposited adherent monolayer with a suitable reactant. The positively charged polymer particles have diameters of less than about 3 micrometers and preferably less than 1 micrometer. The polymer particles are suspended in water to form an aqueous colloidal dispersion. The dispersion is useful as a stable catalyst system and particularly useful for complete electroless deposition of a conductive metal on printed circuit board surfaces and the walls of throughholes formed therein.