Stabilization of Thiolate-Protected Gold Clusters
Against Thermal Inversion: Diastereomeric Au<sub>38</sub>(SCH<sub>2</sub>CH<sub>2</sub>Ph)<sub>24–2<i>x</i></sub>(<i>R</i>‑BINAS)<sub><i>x</i></sub>
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Abstract
Intrinsically
chiral thiolate-protected gold clusters were recently
separated into their enantiomers, and their circular dichroism (CD)
spectra were measured. Introduction of the chiral <i>R</i>-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-dithiol (BINAS) into the ligand
layer of <i>rac</i>-Au<sub>38</sub>(2-PET)<sub>24</sub> clusters
(2-PET: 2-phenylethylthiolate, SCH<sub>2</sub>CH<sub>2</sub>Ph) was
shown to be diastereoselective. In this contribution, we isolated
and characterized the diastereomeric reaction products of the first
exchange step, <i>A</i>-Au<sub>38</sub>(2-PET)<sub>22</sub>(<i>R</i>-BINAS)<sub>1</sub> and <i>C</i>-Au<sub>38</sub>(2-PET)<sub>22</sub>(<i>R</i>-BINAS)<sub>1</sub> (<i>A</i>/<i>C</i>, anticlockwise/clockwise)
and the second exchange product, <i>A</i>-Au<sub>38</sub>(2-PET)<sub>20</sub>(<i>R</i>-BINAS)<sub>2</sub>. The absorption
spectra show minor, but significant influence of the BINAS ligand.
Overall, the spectra are less defined as compared to Au<sub>38</sub>(2-PET)<sub>24</sub>, which is ascribed to symmetry breaking. The
CD spectra are similar to those of the parent Au<sub>38</sub>(2-PET)<sub>24</sub> enantiomers, readily allowing the assignment of handedness
of the ligand layer. Nevertheless, some characteristic differences
are found between the diastereomers. The anisotropy factors are slightly
lower after ligand exchange. The second exchange step seems to confirm
the trend. Inversion experiments were performed and compared to the
racemization of Au<sub>38</sub>(2-PET)<sub>24</sub>. It was found
that the introduction of the BINAS ligand effectively stabilizes the
cluster against inversion, which involves a rearrangement of the thiolates
on the cluster surface. It therefore seems that introduction of the
dithiol reduces the flexibility of the gold–sulfur interface