Robust Enantiomeric Two-Dimensional Assembly of Atomically Precise Silver Clusters.

Jing, Xuemeng; Fu, Fangyu; Wang, Ruijie; Xin, Xing; Qin, Lin; Lv, Hongjin; Yang, Guo-Yu · ACS Nano · 2022

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

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 <i>R</i>/<i>S</i>-[Ag<sub>17</sub>Cl(<sup><i>i</i></sup>PrS)<sub>9</sub>S(CH<sub>3</sub>COO)<sub>5</sub>H<sub>2</sub>O] (<b>R/S-Ag</b><sub><b>17</b></sub>, <sup><i>i</i></sup>PrS = isopropanethiolate) clusters have been synthesized using a viable solvothermal approach. The chirality of the resulting enantiomeric <b>R/S-Ag</b><sub><b>17</b></sub> clusters is attributed to the asymmetric arrangement of surface achiral ligands. Both <b>R/S-Ag</b><sub><b>17</b></sub> enantiomers could form the two-dimensional (2D) assemblies via intercluster interactions of basic building blocks containing Ag<sub>16</sub>S<sub>8</sub> moieties, <sup><i>i</i></sup>PrS-Ag motifs, and S<sup>2-</sup> linkers. Such a small ligand-induced 2D assembly greatly contributes to the enhancement of thermal stability and photocatalytic activity of <b>R/S-Ag</b><sub><b>17</b></sub> clusters, providing possibilities for exploring robust coinage cluster-based assembly with attractive catalytic properties.