Preorganized Nitrogen Sites for Au11 Amidation: A Generalizable Strategy toward Precision Functionalization of Metal Nanoclusters

Atomically precise metal nanoclusters have received tremendousattention due to their unique structures and properties. Althoughsynthetic approaches to this kind of nanomaterial have been well developed,methods toward precision functionalization of the as-synthesized metalnanoclusters are extremely limited, hindering their interfacial modificationand related performance improvement. Herein, an amidation strategyhas been developed for the precision functionalization of the Au-11 nanocluster based on preorganized nitrogen sites. The nanoclusteramidation did not change the number of gold atoms in the Au-11 kernel and their bonding mode to the surface ligands but slightlymodified the arrangement of gold atoms with the introduction of functionalityand chirality, thus representing a relatively mild method for themodification of metal nanoclusters. The stability and oxidation barrierof the Au-11 nanocluster are also improved accordingly.The method developed here would be a generalizable strategy for theprecision functionalization of metal nanoclusters.

Automated summary

An amidation strategy has been developed for the precision functionalization of Au-11 nanoclusters based on preorganized nitrogen sites, which does not change the number of gold atoms in the kernel but slightly modifies their arrangement with the introduction of functionality and chirality.This method represents a relatively mild approach for the modification of metal nanoclusters and improves their stability and oxidation barrier.The method developed here has the potential to be a generalizable strategy for the precision functionalization of metal nanoclusters.