[Au9Ag6(CCR)10(DPPM)2Cl2](PPh4): a four-electron cluster with a bi-decahedral twisted metal core

Guocheng Deng; Taeyoung Ki; Seungwoo Yoo; Xiaolin Liu; Kangjae Lee; Megalamane S Bootharaju; Taeghwan Hyeon

doi:10.1039/d4nr01471e

[Au₉Ag₆(CCR)₁₀(DPPM)₂Cl₂](PPh₄): a four-electron cluster with a bi-decahedral twisted metal core

Nanoscale. 2024 May 20. doi: 10.1039/d4nr01471e. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Guocheng Deng^{1

2}, Taeyoung Ki^{1

2}, Seungwoo Yoo^{1

2}, Xiaolin Liu^{1

2}, Kangjae Lee^{1

2}, Megalamane S Bootharaju^{1

2}, Taeghwan Hyeon^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea. msbootharaju@snu.ac.kr.
² School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.

PMID: 38766759
DOI: 10.1039/d4nr01471e

Abstract

The assembly of cluster units in a distinct manner can give rise to nanoclusters exhibiting unique geometrical structures and properties. Herein, we present a one-pot synthesis and structural characterization of a AuAg alloy cluster, [Au₉Ag₆(CCR)₁₀(DPPM)₂Cl₂](PPh₄), denoted as Au9Ag6 (where HCCR is 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetylene, and DPPM is bis(diphenylphosphino)methane). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data analysis reveals that Au9Ag6 features a distinctive Au₇Ag₆ bi-decahedral core, formed by a twisted assembly of two Au₄Ag₃ decahedra sharing one vertex. The Au₄Ag₃ building blocks are bridged by two gold atoms on opposite sides of the bi-decahedral core. The Au9Ag6 cluster is monoanionic and it is stabilized by two chloride, two DPPM and ten alkynyl ligands. This cluster represents the first instance of a cluster of clusters built upon decahedral units.