Exploring structures, electronic and reactivity properties of Au6Hn (n=1–12) clusters: A DFT approach

A hexanuclear gold carbonyl cluster

The hexanuclear gold carbonyl cluster [PPh4]2[Au6(CF3)6Br2(CO)2] (4) has been obtained by spontaneous self-assembly of the following independent units: CF3AuCO (1) and [PPh4][Br(AuCF3)2] (3). The cyclo-Au6 aggregate 4, in which the components are held together by unassisted, fairly strong aurophilic interactions (Au···Au ∼310 pm), exhibits a cyclohexane-like arrangement with chair conformation. These aurophilic interactions also result in significant ν(CO) lowering: from 2194 cm-1 in the separate component 1 to 2171 cm-1 in the mixed aggregate 4. Procedures to prepare the single-bridged dinuclear component 3 as well as the mononuclear derivative [PPh4][CF3AuBr] (2) are also reported.

Vibrationally resolved photoelectron imaging of Au3H(-)

We report a combined photoelectron velocity map imaging spectroscopy and density functional theory investigation on the Au3H(-) anion. Transition between the anionic electronic ground state and the neutral electronic ground state is revealed. Vibrationally resolved spectra were recorded at two different photon energies, providing a wealth of spectroscopic information for the electronic ground state of the Au3H. Franck-Condon simulations of the ground-state transition are carried out to assist in the assignment of the vibrationally resolved spectra. The electron affinity and vertical detachment energy of Au3H are measured to be 2.548 ± 0.001 and 2.570 ± 0.001 eV, respectively. Three stretching vibrational modes are determined to be activated upon photodetachment, with the frequencies of 2100 ± 100, 177 ± 10, and 96 ± 10 cm(-1).