Preparation of carbon-based AuAg alloy nanoparticles by using the heterometallic [Au4Ag4] cluster for efficient oxidative coupling of anilines

Abstract

We herein report the preparation of unique heteroatom-doped and carbon-based AuAg alloy nanoparticles (NPs) via the pyrolysis of a structurally defined octanuclear heterometallic Au(I)–Ag(I) cluster [Au₄Ag₄(Dppy)₄(Tab)₄(MeCN)₄](PF₆)₈ (2, Dppy = diphenylphosphine-2-pyridine and Tab = 4-(trimethylammonio)benzenethiolate). This cluster-precursor approach exerts a fine control over the spatial arrangement, size and uniformity of the AuAg alloy NPs as well as the doped heteroatoms (P, N, F and S). The optimized material prepared at 450 °C efficiently catalyzes the oxidative coupling of anilines to yield azobenzenes under mild conditions.