A Ligand‐Protected Golden Fullerene: The Dipyridylamido Au₃₂⁸⁺ Nanocluster

Abstract

A golden fullerene Au₃₂ cluster has been synthesized with amido and phosphine ligands as the protecting agents. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis revealed that this gold nanocluster, [Au₃₂ (Ph₃ P)₈ (dpa)₆ ] (SbF₆ )₂ (Hdpa=2,2'-dipyridylamine), has a stable pseudo-I_h Au₃₂ ⁸⁺ core with S₆ symmetry, which features an Au₁₂ @Au₂₀ Keplerate cage co-protected by Ph₃ P and dpa ligands. Quantum-chemical studies were conducted to elucidate the origin of the special stability of this cluster, and suggest that it is electronically stabilized through metal-ligand interactions.