Nuclearity enlargement from [PW9O34@Ag51] to [(PW9O34)2@Ag72] and 2D and 3D network formation driven by bipyridines

The structural transformations of metal nanoclusters are typically quite complex processes involving the formation and breakage of several bonds, and thus are challenging to study. Herein, we report a case where two lacunary Keggin polyoxometallate templated silver single-pods [PW9O34@Ag-51] (SD/Ag51b) fuse to a double-pod [(PW9O34)(2)@Ag-72] by reacting with 4,4'-bipyridine (bipy) or 1,4-bis(4-pyridinylmethyl)piperazine (pi-bipy). Their crystal structures reveal the formation of a 2D 4(4)-sql layer (SD/Ag72a) with bipy and a 3D pcu framework (SD/Ag72c) with pi-bipy. The PW9O349- retains its structure during the cluster fusion and cluster-based network formation. Although the two processes, stripping of an Ag-ligands interface followed by fusion, and polymerization, are difficult to envisage, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry provides enough evidences for such a proposal to be made. Through this example, we expect the structural transformation to become a powerful method for synthesizing silver nanoclusters and their infinite networks, and to evolve from trial-and-error to rational. Controlling the structural transformations of metal clusters is challenging. Here, the authors synthesize a silver nanocluster and study the structural changes that take place upon reaction with bipyridine derivatives.

Automated summary

This study reports the structural transformations of silver nanoclusters under different ligand templates and demonstrates that the transformations can be achieved through reactions with specific ligands. The findings provide a powerful method for synthesizing metal nanoclusters and infinite networks, and have the potential to evolve from trial-and-error to rational synthesis.