Au24(SAdm)16 Nanomolecules: X‑ray Crystal Structure, Theoretical Analysis, Adaptability of Adamantane Ligands to Form Au23(SAdm)16 and Au25(SAdm)16, and Its Relation to Au25(SR)18

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 136; no. 42; pp. 14933 - 14940
• Main Authors: Crasto, David, Barcaro, Giovanni, Stener, Mauro, Sementa, Luca, Fortunelli, Alessandro, Dass, Amala
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 22.10.2014
• Subjects: crystal structure; gold; ligands; mass spectrometry; physical phases; solvents; thermodynamics; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/ja507738e

Here we present the crystal structure, experimental and theoretical characterization of a Au24(SAdm)16 nanomolecule. The composition was verified by X-ray crystallography and mass spectrometry, and its optical and electronic properties were investigated via experiments and first-principles calculations. Most importantly, the focus of this work is to demonstrate how the use of bulky thiolate ligands, such as adamantanethiol, versus the commonly studied phenylethanethiolate ligands leads to a great structural flexibility, where the metal core changes its shape from five-fold to crystalline-like motifs and can adapt to the formation of Au24±1(SAdm)16, namely, Au23(SAdm)16, Au24(SAdm)16, and Au25(SAdm)16. The basis for the construction of a thermodynamic phase diagram of Au nanomolecules in terms of ligands and solvent features is also outlined.