Robust Enantiomeric Two-Dimensional Assembly of Atomically Precise Silver Clusters

The facile syntheses of enantiomeric atomically precise silver clusters starting from achiral ligands remain a substantial challenge to explore. In this work, a pair of atomically precise enantiomers of R/S-[Ag17Cl((PrS)-Pr-i)(9)S(CH3COO)(5)H2O] (R/S-Ag-17, (PrS)-Pr-i = isopropanethiolate) clusters have been synthesized using a viable solvothermal approach. The chirality of the resulting enantiomeric R/S-Ag-17 clusters is attributed to the asymmetric arrangement of surface achiral ligands. Both R/S-Ag-17 enantiomers could form the two-dimensional (2D) assemblies via intercluster interactions of basic building blocks containing Ag16S8 moieties, (PrS)-Pr-i-Ag motifs, and S2- linkers. Such a small ligandinduced 2D assembly greatly contributes to the enhancement of thermal stability and photocatalytic activity of R/S-Ag-17 clusters, providing possibilities for exploring robust coinage cluster-based assembly with attractive catalytic properties.

Automated summary

In this work, a pair of atomically precise enantiomers of silver clusters were synthesized, and their chirality was attributed to the asymmetric arrangement of surface ligands. These clusters could form two-dimensional assemblies, exhibiting excellent thermal stability and photocatalytic activity, providing possibilities for exploring catalysts based on fixed coinage clusters with attractive properties.