PtAg18 superatoms costabilized by phosphines and halides: synthesis, structure, and catalysis

Abstract

Reported herein is the facial synthesis, molecular structure, and catalysis of a Pt/Ag nanocluster costabilized by organic ligands of phosphines and inorganic ligands of chlorides. The nanocluster with molecular formula of [PtAg₁₈(dppp)₆Cl₈](SbF₆)₂ has been obtained facilely by the one pot method. The structure of the cluster could be anatomized as the stabilizaiton of PtAg₁₂-centered icosahedral core by the metalloligand of dppp-Ag–Cl, in which Cl⁻ not only caps the surface Ag atoms but also binds the core and surface motifs. Featuring eight free electrons in its structure, the cluster exhibits high stability. More interestingly, the exposure of surface metal sites endows the cluster with counterintutively  high catalytic activity in hydrogenation reactions.