Surface Menshutkin SN2 Reaction on Basic Gold Clusters Provides Novel Opportunities for the Cationization and Functionalization of Molecular Metal Clusters

Surface chemical reactions on atomically precise metal clusters have considerable attention for opening a new platform for cluster functionalization. In this study, basic Au-25(4-PyET)(18) (4-PyET = -SCH2CH2Py; Py = pyridyl) clusters were successfully transformed into cationized Au-25(4-PyET-CH3+)(x)(4-PyET)(18-x) clusters, without altering their Au-25 cores, through the Menshutkin S(N)2 reaction of their surface Py moieties. This study offers not only a simple cationization method but also a protocol for modifying the surface functionalities of molecular metal clusters via a synthetic reaction.

Automated summary

In this study, basic Au-25(4-PyET)(18) clusters were successfully transformed into cationized Au-25(4-PyET-CH3+)(x)(4-PyET)(18-x) clusters without altering their core structure through a Menshutkin S(N)2 reaction. This method not only offers a simple cationization approach, but also provides a protocol for modifying the surface functionalities of molecular metal clusters via synthetic reactions.