Issue 38, 2023

Insights into the synthesis of NHC-stabilized Au nanoclusters through real-time reaction monitoring

Abstract

Atomically precise gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are interesting nanomaterials with potential applications in catalysis, bioimaging and optoelectronics. Their compositions and properties are commonly evaluated by various analytical techniques, including UV-vis spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. While these techniques have provided detailed insights into the structure and properties of nanoclusters, synthetic methods still suffer from a lack of in situ and real-time reaction monitoring methodologies. This limits insight into the mechanism of formation of AuNCs and hinders attempts at optimization. We have demonstrated the utility of HPLC-MS as a monitoring methodology in the synthesis of two NHC-protected gold nanoclusters: [Au13(NHC)9Cl3]2+ and [Au24(NHC)14Cl2H3]3+. Herein we show that HPLC coupled with mass spectrometry and 13C NMR spectroscopy of labelled derivatives enables new insight into critical reaction dynamics of AuNCs synthesis and rapid reaction optimization.

Graphical abstract: Insights into the synthesis of NHC-stabilized Au nanoclusters through real-time reaction monitoring

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
21 apr 2023
Accepted
20 aug 2023
First published
07 sep 2023
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2023,14, 10500-10507

Insights into the synthesis of NHC-stabilized Au nanoclusters through real-time reaction monitoring

J. Liu, Y. Sato, V. K. Kulkarni, A. I. Sullivan, W. Zhang, C. M. Crudden and J. E. Hein, Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 10500 DOI: 10.1039/D3SC02077K

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