XAFS study on thiol etching of diphosphine-stabilized gold nanoclusters

Thiol-etching triphenylphosphine (PPh3)-protected Au nanoclusters has been widely used to synthesize thiolated Au nanoclusters, while few studies have been reported on the thiol-etching reaction starting from diphosphine-protected Au clusters. Here the thiol-etching reaction in chloroform (CHCl3) for 1,5-Bis(diphenylphosphino) pentane (L5) protected Au11 nanoclusters is presented, and synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption fine structure, UV-vis absorption and mass spectra are combined to identify the reaction products. It is revealed that a gold(I)-thiolate complex Au2L5(RS) is produced, contrary to the case of thiol-etching PPh3-protected Au clusters where formation of thermodynamically stable Au25 or Au11 clusters is achieved.