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)

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society 2014-10, Vol.136 (42), p.14933-14940
• Main Authors: Crasto, David, Barcaro, Giovanni, Stener, Mauro, Sementa, Luca, Fortunelli, Alessandro, Dass, Amala
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 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 Au(24±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.