HCl-induced nuclearity convergence in diphosphine-protected ultrasmall gold clusters: a novel synthetic route to "magic-number" Au13 clusters

Ligand-induced change of the crystal structure and enhanced stability of the Au11 nanocluster

Compared with the Au₁₁(PPh₃)₇Cl₃ and [Au₁₁(PPh₃)₈Cl₂]Cl, [Au₁₁(PPh₂(CH₂)₅Ph₂P)₄(SePh)₂]⁺ exhibits some structural differences and shows significantly enhanced stability in storage and thiol etching.

Cluster–π electronic interaction in a superatomic Au13 cluster bearing σ-bonded acetylide ligands

Electronic coupling between a Au₁₃ superatom and CC π-units was experimentally evidenced by the absorption spectrum. The existence of such a cluster–π electronic interaction was supported by theoretical calculations.

Cationic gold clusters ligated with differently substituted phosphines: effect of substitution on ligand reactivity and binding

Loss of substituted phosphine ligands is strongly correlated with the electron donating ability of the phosphorous lone pair. The results indicate that the relative ligand binding energies increase in the order PMe₃ < PPhMe₂ < PPh₂Me < PPh₃ < PPh₂Cy < PPhCy₂ < PCy₃.

Different interactions between a metal electrode and an organic layer and their different electrical bistability performances

Different electrical bistability performances were obtained by tuning metal electrodes.

[Au7](3+): a missing link in the four-electron gold cluster family

Ligand-stabilized ultrasmall gold clusters offer a library of diverse geometrical and electronic structures. Among them, clusters with four valence electrons form an exceptional but interesting family because of their unique geometrical structures and optical properties. Here, we report a novel diphosphine-ligated four-electron Au7 cluster (2). In good agreement with previous theoretical predictions, 2 has a "core+one" structure to exhibit a prolate shape. The absorption spectrum showed an isolated band, similar to the spectra of Au6 and Au8 clusters with "core+two" structures. TD-DFT studies demonstrated that the attachment of only one gold atom to a polyhedral core is sufficient to generate unique electronic structures and characteristic absorptions. The present result fills the missing link between Au6 and Au8 in the four-electron cluster family, showing that the HOMO-LUMO gap increases with increasing nuclearity in the case of the tetrahedron-based "core+exo" clusters.

Au₂₅(SEt)₁₈, a nearly naked thiolate-protected Au₂₅ cluster: structural analysis by single crystal X-ray crystallography and electron nuclear double resonance

X-ray crystallography has been fundamental in discovering fine structural features of ultrasmall gold clusters capped by thiolated ligands. For still unknown structures, however, new tools capable of providing relevant structural information are sought. We prepared a 25-gold atom nanocluster protected by the smallest ligand ever used, ethanethiol. This cluster displays the electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy features of similar Au25 clusters protected by 18 thiolated ligands. The anionic and the neutral form of Au25(SEt)18 were fully characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, which confirmed the monolayer's properties and the paramagnetism of neutral Au25(SEt)18(0). X-ray crystallography analysis of the latter provided the first known structure of a gold cluster protected by a simple, linear alkanethiolate. Here, we also report the direct observation by electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) of hyperfine interactions between a surface-delocalized unpaired electron and the gold atoms of a nanocluster. The advantages of knowing the exact molecular structure and having used such a small ligand allowed us to compare the experimental values of hyperfine couplings with DFT calculations unaffected by structure's approximations or omissions.

Synthesis and structure determination of a new Au(20) nanocluster protected by tripodal tetraphosphine ligands

We report the synthesis and structure determination of a new Au20 nanocluster coordinated by four tripodal tetraphosphine (PP3) ligands {PP3 = tris[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]phosphine}. Single-crystal X-ray crystallography and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry show that the cluster assembly can be formulated as [Au20(PP3)4]Cl4. The Au20 cluster consists of an icosahedral Au13 core and a seven-Au-atom partial outer shell arranged in a local C3 symmetry. One PP3 ligand coordinates to four Au atoms in the outer shell, while the other three PP3 ligands coordinate to one Au atom from the outer shell and three Au atoms from the surface of the Au13 core, giving rise to an overall chiral 16-electron Au cluster core with C3 symmetry.

Purine-stabilized green fluorescent gold nanoclusters for cell nuclei imaging applications

We report facile one-pot synthesis of water-soluble green fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs), capped with 8-mercapto-9-propyladenine. The synthesized AuNCs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), (1)H NMR, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. These nanoclusters show high photostability and biocompatibility. We observed that AuNCs stain cell nuclei with high specificity, where the mechanism of AuNC uptake was established through pathway-specific uptake inhibitors. These studies revealed that cell internalization of AuNCs occurs via a macropinocytosis pathway.

A chiral gold nanocluster Au20 protected by tetradentate phosphine ligands

The chirality of a gold nanocluster can be generated from either an intrinsically chiral inorganic core or an achiral inorganic core in a chiral environment. The first structural determination of a gold nanocluster containing an intrinsic chiral inorganic core is reported. The chiral gold nanocluster [Au20(PP3)4]Cl4 (PP3=tris(2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl)phosphine) has been prepared by the reduction of a gold(I)-tetraphosphine precursor in dichloromethane solution. Single-crystal structural determination reveals that the cluster molecular structure has C3 symmetry. It consists of a Au20 core consolidated by four peripheral tetraphosphines. The Au20 core can be viewed as the combination of an icosahedral Au13 and a helical Y-shaped Au7 motif. The identity of this Au20 cluster is confirmed by ESI-MS. The chelation of multidentate phosphines enhances the stability of this Au20 cluster.

Chiral structure of thiolate-protected 28-gold-atom nanocluster determined by X-ray crystallography

We report the crystal structure of a new nanocluster formulated as Au28(TBBT)20, where TBBT = 4-tert-butylbenzenethiolate. It exhibits a rod-like Au20 kernel consisting of two interpenetrating cuboctahedra. The kernel is protected by four dimeric "staples" (-SR-Au-SR-Au-SR-) and eight bridging thiolates (-SR-). The unit cell of Au28(TBBT)20 single crystals contains a pair of enantiomers. The origin of chirality is primarily rooted in the rotating arrangement of the four dimeric staples as well as the arrangement of the bridging thiolates (quasi-D2 symmetry). The enantiomers were separated by chiral HPLC and characterized by circular dichroism spectroscopy.

Small gold clusters formed in solution give reaction turnover numbers of 10(7) at room temperature

Very small gold clusters (3 to 10 atoms) formed from conventional gold salts and complexes can catalyze various organic reactions at room temperature, even when present at concentrations of parts per billion. Absorption and emission ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry revealed that, for example, the ester-assisted hydration of alkynes began only when clusters of three to five gold atoms were formed. The turnover numbers and turnover frequencies associated with these catalyzed reactions can be as high as 10(7) and 10(5) per hour, respectively.

Total structure and optical properties of a phosphine/thiolate-protected Au24 nanocluster

We report the synthesis and total structure determination of a Au(24) nanocluster protected by mixed ligands of phosphine and thiolate. Single crystal X-ray crystallography and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) unequivocally determined the cluster formula to be [Au(24)(PPh(3))(10)(SC(2)H(4)Ph)(5)X(2)](+), where X = Cl and/or Br. The structure consists of two incomplete (i.e., one vertex missing) icosahedral Au(12) units joined by five thiolate linkages. This structure shows interesting differences from the previously reported vertex-sharing biicosahedral [Au(25)(PPh(3))(10)(SC(2)H(4)Ph)(5)X(2)](2+) nanocluster protected by the same type and number of phosphine and thiolate ligands. The optical absorption spectrum of Au(24) nanocluster was theoretically reproduced and interpreted.

Stabilized gold clusters: from isolation toward controlled synthesis

Bare metal clusters with fewer than ∼100 atoms exhibit intrinsically unique and size-specific properties, making them promising functional units or building blocks for novel materials. To utilize such clusters in functional materials, they need to be stabilized against coalescence by employing organic ligands, polymers, and solid materials. To realize rational development of cluster-based materials, it is essential to clarify how the stability and nature of clusters are modified by interactions with stabilizers by characterizing isolated clusters. The next stage is to design on-demand function by intentionally controlling the structural parameters of cluster-based materials; such parameters include the size, composition, and atomic arrangement of clusters and the interfacial structure between clusters and stabilizers. This review summarizes the current state of the art of isolation of gold clusters stabilized in various environments and surveys ongoing efforts to precisely control the structural parameters with atomic level accuracy.

Facile synthesis and optical properties of magic-number Au13 clusters

Synthesis of molecular gold clusters through a post-synthetic scheme involving HCl-promoted nuclearity convergence was examined with various phosphine ligands. Systematic studies with a series of bis(diphenylphosphino) ligands (Ph(2)P-(CH(2))(m)-PPh(2)) using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and electronic absorption spectroscopy demonstrated that the use of dppp (m = 3), dppb (m = 4) and dpppe (m = 5) as the ligands resulted in the formation of [Au(13)P(8)Cl(4)](+) type clusters, whereas the [Au(13)P(10)Cl(2)](3+) type cluster was formed with dppe (m = 2). The cluster species did not survive the HCl treatment step when monophosphines PPh(3), PMe(2)Ph, and POct(3) were employed, but [Au(13)(POct(3))(8)Cl(4)](+) was isolated as a minor product in the NaBH(4) reduction of Au(POct(3))Cl in aqueous THF. Electronic absorption and photoluminescence studies of a series of Au(13) clusters revealed that their optical properties are highly dependent on the phosphine/chloride composition ratio, but are far less so on the phosphine structure.

Sub-nanometre sized metal clusters: from synthetic challenges to the unique property discoveries

Sub-nanometre sized metal clusters, with dimensions between metal atoms and nanoparticles, have attracted more and more attention due to their unique electronic structures and the subsequent unusual physical and chemical properties. However, the tiny size of the metal clusters brings the difficulty of their synthesis compared to the easier preparation of large nanoparticles. Up to now various synthetic techniques and routes have been successfully applied to the preparation of sub-nanometre clusters. Among the metals, gold clusters, especially the alkanethiolate monolayer protected clusters (MPCs), have been extensively investigated during the past decades. In recent years, silver and copper nanoclusters have also attracted enormous interest mainly due to their excellent photoluminescent properties. Meanwhile, more structural characteristics, particular optical, catalytic, electronic and magnetic properties and the related technical applications of the metal nanoclusters have been discovered in recent years. In this critical review, recent advances in sub-nanometre sized metal clusters (Au, Ag, Cu, etc.) including the synthetic techniques, structural characterizations, novel physical, chemical and optical properties and their potential applications are discussed in detail. We finally give a brief outlook on the future development of metal nanoclusters from the viewpoint of controlled synthesis and their potential applications.

Predictive gold nanocluster formation controlled by metal-ligand complexes

The formation of ligand-protected gold nanoclusters during size-selective syntheses is seemingly driven by the inherent properties of the protecting ligands, but a general description of the product formation has not been presented. This study uses diphosphine-protected Au clusters as a model system to examine i) control of metal-ligand complex distributions in methanol-chloroform solutions, ii) role of solution perturbations, e.g., oxidation, and iii) nanocluster formation through reduction of characterized complex distributions. By selectively reducing complexes and monitoring cluster formation with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and UV-vis, data show the distribution of complexes can be controlled through ligand exchange, and the reduction of specific complexes produce characteristic ligated gold clusters based on ligand class. Specifically, 1,n-bis(diphenylphosphino)n-alkane ligands, L(n), where n = 1 through 6, are classified into two distinct sets. The classes represent ligands that either form mainly [AuL(n)(2)](+) (Class I, n = 1-3) or bridged [Au(2)L(n)(2)](2+) (Class II, n = 4-6) complexes after complete ligand exchange with AuClPPh(3). Selectively reducing gold-phosphine ligand complexes allows mapping of product formation, resulting collectively in a predictive tool for ligated gold cluster production by simply monitoring the initial complex distribution prior to reduction.

Charge retention by gold clusters on surfaces prepared using soft landing of mass selected ions

Monodisperse gold clusters have been prepared on surfaces in different charge states through soft landing of mass-selected ions. Ligand-stabilized gold clusters were prepared in methanol solution by reduction of chloro(triphenylphosphine)gold(I) with borane tert-butylamine complex in the presence of 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane. Electrospray ionization was used to introduce the clusters into the gas phase, and mass selection was employed to isolate a single ionic cluster species (Au(11)L(5)(3+), L = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane), which was delivered to surfaces at well-controlled kinetic energies. Using in situ time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), it is demonstrated that the Au(11)L(5)(3+) cluster retains its 3+ charge state when soft landed onto the surface of a 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanethiol self-assembled monolayer (FSAM) on gold. In contrast, when deposited onto 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid (COOH-SAM) and 1-dodecanethiol (HSAM) surfaces on gold, the clusters exhibit larger relative abundances of the 2+ and 1+ charge states, respectively. The kinetics of charge reduction on the FSAM and HSAM surfaces are investigated using in situ Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) SIMS. It is shown that an extremely slow interfacial charge reduction occurs on the FSAM surface while an almost instantaneous neutralization takes place on the surface of the HSAM. Our results demonstrate that the size and charge state of small gold clusters on surfaces, both of which exert a dramatic influence on their chemical and physical properties, may be tuned through soft landing of mass-selected ions onto carefully selected substrates.

Understanding the evolution of luminescent gold quantum clusters in protein templates

We show that the time-dependent biomineralization of Au(3+) by native lactoferrin (NLf) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) resulting in near-infrared (NIR) luminescent gold quantum clusters (QCs) occurs through a protein-bound Au(1+) intermediate and subsequent emergence of free protein. The evolution was probed by diverse tools, principally, using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The importance of alkaline pH in the formation of clusters was probed. At neutral pH, a Au(1+)-protein complex was formed (starting from Au(3+)) with the binding of 13-14 gold atoms per protein. When the pH was increased above 12, these bound gold ions were further reduced to Au(0) and nucleation and growth of cluster commenced, which was corroborated by the beginning of emission; at this point, the number of gold atoms per protein was ~25, suggesting the formation of Au(25). During the cluster evolution, at certain time intervals, for specific molar ratios of gold and protein, occurrence of free protein was noticed in the mass spectra, suggesting a mixture of products and gold ion redistribution. By providing gold ions at specific time of the reaction, monodispersed clusters with enhanced luminescence could be obtained, and the available quantity of free protein could be utilized efficiently. Monodispersed clusters would be useful in obtaining single crystals of protein-protected noble metal quantum clusters where homogeneity of the system is of primary concern.

Serial silver clusters biomineralized by one peptide

The artificial peptide with amino acid sequence CCYRGRKKRRQRRR was used to biomineralize serial Ag clusters. Under different alkaline conditions, clusters with red and blue emission were biomineralized by the peptide, respectively. The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectra implied that the red-emitting cluster sample was composed of Ag(28), while the blue-emitting cluster sample was composed of Ag(5), Ag(6), and Ag(7). The UV-visible absorption and infrared spectra revealed that the peptide phenol moiety reduced Ag(+) ions and that formed Ag clusters were captured by peptide thiol moieties. The phenol reduction potential was controlled by the alkalinity and played an important role in determining the Ag cluster size. Circular dichroism observations suggested that the alkalinity tuned the peptide secondary structure, which may also affect the Ag cluster size.