Sulfide-Induced Dimerization Versus Demetallation of Tricopper(I) Clusters Protected by Tris-Thiolato Metalloligands

Here, we report the reactivity of copper(I) clusters toward sulfide ions; these sulfide copper(I) clusters have attracted much attention due to their relevance to biologically active centers and their fascinating structural and photophysical properties. Treatment of the CuI 3RhIII 2 pentanuclear complex, [Cu3{Rh(aet)3}2]3+ (aet=2-aminoethanethiolate), in which a {CuI 3}3+ cluster moiety is bound by two fac-[Rh(aet)3] metalloligands, with NaSH in water produced the CuI 6RhIII 4 decanuclear complex, [Cu6S{Rh(aet)3}4]4+, accompanied by the dimerization of [Cu3{Rh(aet)3}2]3+ and the incorporation of a sulfide ion at the center. While similar treatment using the analogous CuI 3IrIII 2 complex with fac-[Ir(aet)3] metalloligands, [Cu3{Ir(aet)3}2]3+, produced the isostructural CuI 6IrIII 4 decanuclear complex, [Cu6S{Ir(aet)3}4]4+, the use of the CuI 3RhIII 2 complex with fac-[Rh(apt)3] metalloligands, [Cu3{Rh(apt)3}2]3+ (apt=3-aminopropanethiolate), resulted in the removal of one of the three CuI atoms from {CuI 3}3+ to afford the CuI 2RhIII 2 tetranuclear complex, [Cu2{Rh(apt)3}2]2+.

Serendipitous formation of oxygen-bridged CuII6M (M = MnII, CoII) double cubanes showing electrocatalytic water oxidation

Hydroxido-bridged CuII6M double-cubane clusters (M = Mn^II, Co^II) supported by D-penicillaminedisulfide were unexpectedly formed by treating a D-penicillaminato CuII2PtII2 complex with MBr₂ in water. The clusters displayed heterogeneous electrocatalytic activities for water oxidation dependent on the central M shared by two Cu^II cubane units.

Heterometallation of Photoluminescent Silver(I) Sulfide Nanoclusters Protected by Octahedral Iridium(III) Thiolates

The recently-increasing interest in coinage metal clusters stems from their photophysical properties, which are controlled via heterometallation. Herein, we report homometallic Ag^I ₄₆ S₁₃ clusters protected by octahedral fac-[Ir(aet)₃ ] (aet=2-aminoethanethiolate) molecules and their conversion to heterometallic Ag^I ₄₃ M^I ₃ S₁₃ (M=Cu, Au) clusters. The reactions of fac-[Ir(aet)₃ ] with Ag⁺ and penicillamine produced [Ag₄₆ S₁₃ {Ir(aet)₃ }₁₄ ]²⁰⁺ ([1]²⁰⁺ ), where a spherical Ag^I ₄₆ S₁₃ cluster is covered by fac-[Ir(aet)₃ ] octahedra through thiolato bridges. [1]²⁰⁺ was converted to [Ag₄₃ M₃ S₁₃ {Ir(aet)₃ }₁₄ ]²⁰⁺ ([1^M ]²⁰⁺ ) with an Ag^I ₄₃ M^I ₃ S₁₃ cluster by treatment with M⁺ , retaining its overall structure. [1]²⁰⁺ was photoluminescent and had an emission band ca. 690 nm that originated from an S-to-Ag charge transfer. While [1^Cu ]²⁰⁺ showed an emission band with a slightly higher energy of ca. 650 nm and a lower quantum yield, the emission band for [1^Au ]²⁰⁺ shifted to a much higher energy of ca. 590 nm with an enhanced quantum yield.