Abstract
Thiolate-protected metal clusters can exchange ligands or metal atoms with other substances such as coexisting ligands, complexes, and metal clusters in solution. Using these reactions, it is possible to synthesize metal clusters with new physical and chemical properties. Although the occurrence of such reactions was recognized nearly 20 years ago, their details were not well understood. In recent years, techniques for the precise synthesis of metal clusters and their characterization have progressed considerably and, as a result, details of these reactions have been clarified. In this perspective, we focus on the most-studied thiolate-protected gold clusters and provide a summary of recent findings as well as future expectations concerning the exchange reactions of these clusters.
Highlights
It has recently become possible to synthesize metal clusters protected by organic ligands, like thiolates and phosphines, with atomic precision.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]
The geometric structures of such precise metal clusters can be determined via single-crystal X-ray structural analysis
Our knowledge of the geometry of metal clusters protected by organic ligands is currently improving rapidly
Summary
It has recently become possible to synthesize metal clusters protected by organic ligands, like thiolates and phosphines, with atomic precision.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10] The geometric structures of such precise metal clusters can be determined via single-crystal X-ray structural analysis. Experimental and theoretical studies on precise metal clusters have furthered our understanding of their size-specific physical properties, including photoluminescence,[11] magnetic properties,[12] and redox behavior,[12,13,14] as well as the origins of their appearances. These ligand-protected metal clusters exhibit several interesting features in their chemical properties. Provide a summary of recent findings as well as future expectations concerning these exchange reactions
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