Ligand-protected Au4Ru2 and Au5Ru2 nanoclusters: distinct structures and implications for site-cooperation catalysis

Abstract

We report two ligand-protected Au₄Ru₂ and Au₅Ru₂ nanoclusters with distinct atomic-packing modes and electronic structures, both of which act as ideal model catalysts for identifying the catalytically active sites of catalysts on the nanoclusters. Au₅Ru₂ exhibits superior catalytic performances to Au₄Ru₂ for N-methylation of N-methylaniline to N-methylformanili, which is likely due to the site-cooperation catalysis of Au₅Ru₂.