Pyridine dicarbanion-bonded Ag<sub>13</sub>organometallic nanoclusters: synthesis and on-surface oxidative coupling reaction
Cuicui Li, Siqi Zhang, Jian Tang, Ruijun Jian, Yu Xia, Liang Zhao
Abstract
nanoclusters feature a unique open-shell electronic structure as well as a chiral cluster architecture due to the asymmetric arrangements of surrounding aryl dianion ligands. Furthermore, the pyridyl diide ligands on the surface of the nanocluster further experience an intra-cluster oxidative coupling to produce bipyridine coupling products and large nanoparticles. The coupling reaction-driven cluster-to-cluster transformation is comprehensively tracked by high resolution mass spectroscopy. This work is not only reminiscent of the detailed evolution of cluster species upon the occurrence of coupling reactions, but also reproduces novel inter- and intra-cluster coupling steps at different reaction stages.