Synthesis and Structure of Polyhydrido Copper Nanocluster [Cu14H10(PPh3)8(SPhMe2)3]+: Symmetry-Breaking by Thiolate Ligands to form Racemic Pairs of Chiral Clusters in Solid-State

Abstract

AbstractA polyhydrido copper nanocluster, [Cu14H10(PPh3)8(SR)3]+ (HSR = 2,4-dimethylbenzenethiol), adopting a distorted fcc structure, is reported. One cube-vertex copper atom, coordinated by the three thiolate ligands and a PPh3, protrudes outwards from the fcc metal framework. The twisting of the three thiolate ligands about the threefold axis lowers the symmetry from Oh (Cu14) to C3, forming racemic pairs of intrinsic chiral clusters in crystalline solid-state. Graphical Abstract