Enhanced Surface Ligands Reactivity of Metal Clusters by Bulky Ligands for Controlling Optical and Chiral Properties

Surface ligands play critical roles in determining the surface properties of metal clusters. However, modulating and controlling structure clusters through surface-capping-agent displacement is challenging. Herein, [Ag14(SPh(CF3)2)12(PPh3)4(DMF)4] (Ag14-DMF; DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide), with weakly coordinated DMF on silver sites, was synthesized by a mixed-ligands strategy. Owing to high reactivity Ag14-DMF, are labile, easily dissociated or exchanged other ligands. Based enhanced reactivity, easy modulation optical Ag14 reversible “on-off” ligation realized. When chiral amines were introduced as-prepared products, all eight replaced racemic converted optically pure homochiral as evidenced circular dichroism (CD) activity single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). This work provides new insight into atomically precise for specific applications obtained.