Effect of chiral camphor thiolate ligands on the structure and stability of Au19 nanoclusters

Abstract

Based on their well-defined atomic structures, chiral clusters can be utilized to describe the origin of nanomaterial-like chirality, laying the foundation for the application of chiral materials. However, their chiral application is limited owing to chiral phosphines, amines, and carboxylic acids forming protected clusters with weak chiral stability, while thiol-protected clusters are stable; however, there are relatively few types of chiral thiols available yet, and they have a high price. In this study, chiral camphor thiols were designed and prepared from natural products. Based on the novel chiral thiol ligands, a pair of novel R/S-Au₁₉(SR)₁₃DPPM chiral clusters were obtained. Their structural anatomies showed that their chiral origins were diverse and their core distortion was more significant compared with their counterparts. Subsequent stability tests showed that both of these were stable in thermal, alkaline, and reducing environments, thus offering a solid foundation for their application in the corresponding environments. Importantly, the chiral thiol ligands designed in this study could provide new opportunities for the preparation of stable chiral nanoclusters and their applications.