Spectroscopic Evidence for a Covalent Sigma Au-C Bond on Au Surfaces Using 13C Isotope Labeling

Speciation Analysis of Metals and Metalloids by Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

The presence of metalloids and heavy metals in the environment is of critical concern due to their toxicological impacts. However, not all metallic species have the same risk level. Specifically, the physical, chemical, and isotopic speciation of the metal(loids) dictate their metabolism, toxicity, and environmental fate. As such, speciation analysis is critical for environmental monitoring and risk assessment. In the past two decades, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has seen significant developments regarding trace metal(loid) sensing due to its ultrahigh sensitivity, readiness for in situ real-time applications, and cost-effectiveness. However, the speciation of metal(loid)s has not been accounted for in the design and application of SERS sensors. In this Perspective, we examine the potential of SERS for metal(loid) speciation analysis and highlight the advantages, progress, opportunities, and challenges of this application.

Construction of Two-Dimensional Organometallic Coordination Networks with Both Organic Kagome and Semiregular Metal Lattices on Au(111)

Two-dimensional metal-organic networks (2D MONs) having heterogeneous coordination nodes (HCNs) could exhibit excellent performance in catalysis and optoelectronics because of the unbalanced electron distribution of the coordinating metals. Therefore, the design and construction of 2D MONs with HCNs are highly desirable but remain challenging. Here, we report the construction of 2D organometallic coordination networks with an organic Kagome lattice and a semiregular metal lattice on Au(111) via the in situ formation of HCNs. Using a bifunctional precursor 1,4-dibromo-2,5-diisocyanobenzene, the coordination of isocyano with Au adatom on a room-temperature Au(111) yielded metal-organic coordination chains with isocyano-Au-isocyano nodes. In contrast, on a high-temperature Au(111), a selective debromination/coordination cascade reaction occurred, affording 2D organometallic coordination networks with phenyl-Au-isocyano nodes. By combining scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory calculations, we determined the structures of coordination products and the nature of coordination nodes, demonstrating a thermodynamically favorable pathway for forming the phenyl-Au-isocyano nodes.

NMR Spectroscopic Signatures of Cationic Surface Sites from Supported Coinage Metals Interacting with N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have been extensively studied to modulate the reactivity of molecular catalysts, colloids, and their supported analogues, being isolated sites, clusters, or nanoparticles. While the interaction of NHCs on metal surfaces has been discussed in great detail, showing specific coordination chemistry depending on the type of NHC ligands, much less is known when the metal is dispersed on oxide supports, as in heterogeneous catalysts. Herein, we study the interaction of NHC ligands with Au surface sites dispersed on silica, a nonreducible oxide support. We identify the easy formation of bis-NHC ligated Au(I) surface sites parallel to what is found on metallic Au surfaces. These species display a specific 13C NMR spectroscopic signature that clearly distinguishes them from the mono-NHC Au(I) surface sites or supported imidazoliums. We find that bis-ligated surface species are not unique to supported Au(I) species and are found for the corresponding Ag(I) and Cu(I) species, as well as for the isolobal surface silanols. Furthermore, the interaction of NHC ligand with silica-supported Au nanoparticles also yields bis-NHC ligated Au(I) surface sites, indicating that metal atoms can also be easily extracted from nanoparticles, further illustrating the dynamics of these systems and the overall favorable formation of such bis-ligated species across a range of systems, besides what has been found on crystalline metal facets.

Seeking a Au-C stretch on gold nanoparticles with 13C-labeled N-heterocyclic carbenes

Gold nanoparticles were functionalized with natural abundance and 13C-labeled N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) to investigate the Au-C stretch. A combinatorial approach of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations highlighted vibrational modes significantly impacted by isotopic labeling at the carbene carbon. Critically, no isotopically-impacted stretching mode showed majority Au-C character.

Formation of covalent metal-carbon contacts assisted by Ag+ for single molecule junctions

Covalent metal-carbon (M-C) contacts have long been pursued for constructing robust and high-performance molecular devices. Existing methods for creating such contacts usually rely on direct chemical reactions between metal electrodes and designed molecular ligands. An inherent limitation of this approach is that the commonly used metal electrodes (e.g., Au) are chemically inert, making it generally difficult to form covalent M-C bonds with molecules. Intriguingly, employing the scanning tunneling microscope-break junction technique, we find that simply adding Ag⁺ ions to molecular solution enables direct covalent bonding of terminal alkynes to Au electrodes. The bonding process is driven by Ag⁺ ion coupled in situ reactions and efficiently creates covalent Au/Ag-C interfaces in single molecule junctions. This metal ion assisted method avoids the need for complex synthesis of molecular ligands and works robustly for a wide range of alkyne-terminated molecules, offering a facile and versatile approach for precisely tuning the metal-molecule interface.

Bifunctional Calix[4]arene-Coated Gold Nanoparticles for Orthogonal Conjugation

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are currently intensively exploited in the biomedical field as they possess interesting chemical and optical properties. Although their synthesis is well-known, their controlled surface modification with defined densities of ligands such as peptides, DNA, or antibodies remains challenging and has generally to be optimized case by case. This is particularly true for applications like in vivo drug delivery that require AuNPs with multiple ligands, for example a targeting ligand and a drug in well-defined proportions. In this context, we aimed to develop a calixarene-modification strategy that would allow the controlled orthogonal conjugation of AuNPs, respectively, via amide bond formation and copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). To do this, we synthesized a calix[4]arene-tetradiazonium salt bearing four PEG chains ended by an alkyne group (C1) and, after optimization of its grafting on 20 nm AuNPs, we demonstrated that CuAAC can be used to conjugate an azide containing dye (N₃-cya7.5). It was observed that AuNPs coated with C1 (AuNPs-C1) can be conjugated to approximately 600 N₃-cya7.5 that is much higher than the value obtained for AuNPs decorated with traditional thiolated PEG ligands terminated by an alkyne group. The control over the number of molecules conjugated via CuAAC was even possible by incorporating a non-functional calixarene (C2) into the coating layer. We then combined C1 with a calix[4]arene-tetradiazonium salt bearing four carboxyl groups (C3) that allows conjugation of an amine (NH₂-cya7.5) containing dye. The conjugation potential of these bifunctional AuNPs-C1/C3 was quantified by UV-vis spectroscopy: AuNPs decorated with equal amount of C1 and C3 could be conjugated to approximately 350 NH₂-dyes and 300 N₃-dyes using successively amide bond formation and CuAAC, demonstrating the control over the orthogonal conjugation. Such nanoconstructs could benefit to anyone in the need of a controlled modification of AuNPs with two different molecules via two different chemistries.

Synthesis of γ-Pyrones and N-Methyl-4-pyridones via the Au Nanoparticle-Catalyzed Cyclization of Skipped Diynones in the Presence of Water or Aqueous Methylamine

Supported Au nanoparticles on TiO₂ catalyze the hydration/6-endo cyclization of skipped diynones to γ-pyrones in aqueous dioxane, via triple bond activation. The isomeric 3(2H)-furanones which could be formed through a competing and often prevailing 5-exo cyclization pathway using homogeneous ionic Au(I) catalysts were not seen. The reaction does not proceed via the initial 1,3-transposition of the skipped diynones to their corresponding conjugated 1,3-diynone isomers. If aqueous methylamine is added, N-methyl-4-pyridones are exclusively formed in 69-79% yields via an analogous hydroamination/Au-catalyzed 6-endo cyclization pathway.

Substrate-Modulated Synthesis of Metal-Organic Hybrids by Tunable Multiple Aryl-Metal Bonds

Assembly of semiconducting organic molecules with multiple aryl-metal covalent bonds into stable one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) metal-organic frameworks represents a promising route to the integration of single-molecule electronics in terms of structural robustness and charge transport efficiency. Although various metastable organometallic frameworks have been constructed by the extensive use of single aryl-metal bonds, it remains a great challenge to embed multiple aryl-metal bonds into these structures due to inadequate knowledge of harnessing such complex bonding motifs. Here, we demonstrate the substrate-modulated synthesis of 1D and 2D metal-organic hybrids (MOHs) with the organic building blocks (perylene) interlinked solely with multiple aryl-metal bonds via the stepwise thermal dehalogenation of 3,4,9,10-tetrabromo-1,6,7,12-tetrachloroperylene and subsequent metal-organic connection on metal surfaces. More importantly, the conversion from 1D to 2D MOHs is completely impeded on Au(111) but dominant on Ag(111). We comprehensively study the distinct reaction pathways on the two surfaces by visually tracking the structural evolution of the MOHs with high-resolution scanning tunneling and noncontact atomic force microscopy, supported by first-principles density functional theory calculations. The substrate-dependent structural control of the MOHs is attributed to the variation of the M-X (M = Au, Ag; X = C, Cl) bond strength regulated by the nature of the metal species.