Robust Enantiomeric Two-Dimensional Assembly of Atomically Precise Silver Clusters
Xuemeng Jing, Fangyu Fu, Ruijie Wang, Xing Xin, Lin Qin, Hongjin Lv, Guo‐Yu Yang
Abstract
The facile syntheses of enantiomeric atomically precise silver clusters starting from achiral ligands remain a substantial challenge to explore. In this work, a pair of atomically precise enantiomers of R/S-[Ag17Cl(iPrS)9S(CH3COO)5H2O] (R/S-Ag17, iPrS = isopropanethiolate) clusters have been synthesized using a viable solvothermal approach. The chirality of the resulting enantiomeric R/S-Ag17 clusters is attributed to the asymmetric arrangement of surface achiral ligands. Both R/S-Ag17 enantiomers could form the two-dimensional (2D) assemblies via intercluster interactions of basic building blocks containing Ag16S8 moieties, iPrS-Ag motifs, and S2– linkers. Such a small ligand-induced 2D assembly greatly contributes to the enhancement of thermal stability and photocatalytic activity of R/S-Ag17 clusters, providing possibilities for exploring robust coinage cluster-based assembly with attractive catalytic properties.