Metal Doping of Au₂₅(SR)₁₈^– Clusters: Insights and Hindsights

The study of the structures and properties of atomically precise gold nanoclusters is the object of active research worldwide. Recently, research has been also focusing on the doping of metal nanoclusters through introduction of noble metals, such as platinum, and less noble metals, such as cadmium and mercury. Previous studies, which relied extensively on the use of mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray crystallography, led to the assignment of the location of each of these foreign-metal atoms. Our study provides new insights into this topic and, particularly, compelling evidence about the actual position of the selected metal atoms M = Pt, Pd, Hg, and Cd in the structure of Au₂₄M(SR)₁₈⁰. To make sure that the results were not dependent on the thiolate, for SR we used both butanethiolate and phenylethanethiolate. The clusters were prepared according to different literature procedures that were supposed to lead to different doping positions. Use of NMR spectroscopy and isotope effects, with the support of mass spectrometry, electrochemistry, and single-crystal X-ray crystallography, led us to confirm that noble metals indeed dope the cluster at its central position, whereas no matter how the doping reaction is conducted and the nature of the ligand, the position of both Cd and Hg is always on the icosahedron shell, rather than at the central or staple position, as often reported. Our results not only provide a reassessment of previous conclusions, but also highlight the importance of NMR spectroscopy studies and cast doubts on drawing conclusions mostly based on single-crystal X-ray crystallography.