Structure and bonding in cyclic thiolate complexes of copper, silver and gold

Steric and electronic influence on Cu-Cu short contacts in β-thioketiminato tricopper(I) clusters

A series of β-thioketiminate copper(I) complex trimers [LCuI]3 were synthesized by modifying the ligand framework with electron-withdrawing groups (F and Cl) or electron-donating groups (iPr and Me) at the N-aryl ring as well as with CF3 groups on the chelating backbone. This ligand modification significantly impacts the enhancement of Cu⋯Cu short contacts, which can be rationalized by using steric and electronic factors of the chelated ligand. We observed that this intramolecular cuprophilicity among [LCuI]3 complexes is primarily governed by the size of N-aryl ortho-substituents. These findings were well supported by X-ray crystallography, Raman spectroscopy, and Mayer bond order analysis. The electronic effects induced by the ligand modification on the LCuI fragment were investigated using CO and 2,4,6-CNC6H2Me3 as probe molecules. Corroborated by the FTIR and CV measurements, our results reveal that the β-thioketiminate SN chelators induce more pronounced changes in the electronic character of the LCuI fragment due to the presence of CF3 groups on the chelating backbone in comparison with the F or Cl substituents on the N-aryl ring.

Size evolution and ligand effects on the structures and stability of (AuL)n (L = Cl, SH, SCH3, PH2, P(CH3)2, n = 1–13) clusters

Size evolution on the global minimum structures of (AuCl)_n clusters at n = 1–13.

Stereoselective synthesis and reaction of gold(i) (Z)-enethiolates

Bench-top-storable (Z)-enethiol reagents: gold (Z)-1-decenylthiolates were synthesized stereoselectively in high yields.

Quantum-sized gold nanoclusters: bridging the gap between organometallics and nanocrystals

This Concept article provides an elementary discussion of a special class of large-sized gold compounds, so-called Au nanoclusters, which lies in between traditional organogold compounds (e.g., few-atom complexes, <1 nm) and face-centered cubic (fcc) crystalline Au nanoparticles (typically >2 nm). The discussion is focused on the relationship between them, including the evolution from the Au⋅⋅⋅Au aurophilic interaction in Au(I) complexes to the direct Au-Au bond in clusters, and the structural transformation from the fcc structure in nanocrystals to non-fcc structures in nanoclusters. Thiolate-protected Au(n)(SR)(m) nanoclusters are used as a paradigm system. Research on such nanoclusters has achieved considerable advances in recent years and is expected to flourish in the near future, which will bring about exciting progress in both fundamental scientific research and technological applications of nanoclusters of gold and other metals.