Reversible Wide‐Range Tuneable Luminescence of a Dual‐Stimuli‐ Responsive Silver Cluster‐Assembled Material

Silver cluster‐assembled materials (SCAMs) are emerging multi‐functional materials and have attracted great attention recently. In this work, we have prepared a new SCAM of {[Ag₁₈(S^tBu)₁₀(CF₃COO)₂(PhPO₃)(PhPO₃H)₄(bpy‐NH₂)₂]?(PhPO₃H₂)}_n (denoted as Ag₁₈bpy‐NH₂), by a facile one‐pot method. Ag₁₈bpy‐NH₂ adopts a chain‐like structure made of Ag₁₈ clusters bridged by bipyridyl linkers. Ag₁₈bpy‐NH₂ exhibits reversible luminescent mechanochromism upon mechanical stimulation and solvent treatment. Moreover, it also displays luminescent thermochromism with a linear relationship of the temperature to the intensity ratio of the dual emissions over a wide temperature range of 83 to 303 K. This work might provide new insights into the assembly of multifunctional stimuli‐responsive SCAMs.     

Matrix Coordination Induced Emission in a Three-Dimensional Silver Cluster-Assembled Material

Developing highly luminescent and extensively stable silver cluster-assembled materials (SCAMs) from the inferior luminogens and unstable silver cluster is an important and challenging issue. Herein, a new luminescent three-dimensional SCAM ( Ag₁₂CPPP , [Ag₁₂(StBu)₆(CF₃COO)₆(CPPP)₂(DMAc)₁₂]_n; CPPP=2,5-bis(4-cyanophenyl)-1,4-bis(4-(pyridine-4-yl)-phenyl)-1,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole, DMAc=dimethylacetamide) was designed and synthesized with a quadridentate rigid emission ligand ( CPPP ) and a silver–chalcogenolate cluster (SCC) containing 12 Ag^I atoms. The luminescence study indicates that CPPP is an aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) molecule with twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) character. Benefiting from the strong immobilization effect in the robust framework, the quantum yield of CPPP is greatly enhanced in Ag₁₂CPPP compared with that of CPPP in solution or in the solid state. As a result, Ag₁₂CPPP exhibits typical matrix coordination induced emission (MCIE) effect. Such efficient rigidifying methodology provides a promising approach for enhancing luminescence of ACQ molecules in an aggregated state and strengthening the silver cluster in an unstable state.     

Extra Silver Atom Triggers Room‐Temperature Photoluminescence in Atomically Precise Radarlike Silver Clusters

Luminescent metal clusters show promise for applications in imaging and sensing. However, promoting emission from metal clusters at room temperature is a challenging task owing to the lack of an efficient approach to suppress the nonradiative decay process in metal cores. We report herein that the addition of a silver atom into a metal interstice of the radarlike thiolated silver cluster [Ag₂₇(S^tBu)₁₄(S)₂(CF₃COO)₉(DMAc)₄]?DMAc ( NC1 , DMAc=dimethylacetamide), which is non‐emissive under ambient conditions, produced another silver cluster [Ag₂₈(AdmS)₁₄(S)₂(CF₃COO)₁₀(H₂O)₄] ( NC2 ) that displayed bright green room‐temperature photoluminescence aided by the new ligand 1‐adamantanethiol (AdmSH). The 28th Ag atom, which hardly affects the geometrical and electronic structures of the Ag–S skeleton, triggered the emission of green light as a result of the rigidity of the cluster structure.     

High‐Nuclear Organometallic Copper(I)–Alkynide Clusters: Thermochromic Near‐Infrared Luminescence and Solution Stability

Cu(CF₃COO)₂ reacts with tert‐butylacetylene (tBuC≡CH) in methanol in the presence of metallic copper powder to give two air‐stable clusters, [Cu^I₁₅(tBuC≡C)₁₀(CF₃COO)₅]?tBuC≡CH ( 1 ) and [Cu^I₁₆(tBuC≡C)₁₂(CF₃COO)₄(CH₃OH)₂] ( 2 ). The assembly process involves in situ comproportionation reaction between Cu²⁺ and Cu⁰ and the formation of two different clusters is controlled by reactants concentration. The clusters consist of Cu₁₅ and Cu₁₆ cores co‐stabilized by strong by σ‐ and π‐bonded tert‐butylethynide and CF₃COO^? (together with methanol molecule in 2 ). Their stabilities in solution were confirmed using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in which the cluster core remains intact for 1 in chloroform and acetone, and for 2 in acetonitrile. Strong thermochromic luminescence in the near infrared (NIR) region was observed in the solid‐state. Of particular interest, the emission maximum of 1 is red‐shifted from 710 nm at 298 K to 793 nm at 93 K, along with a 17‐fold fluorescence enhancement. In contrast, 2 exhibits red shift from 298 to 123 K followed by blue shift from 123 to 93 K. The emission wavelength was correlated with the structural parameters using variable‐temperature X‐ray single‐crystal analyses. The rich cuprophilic interaction plays a significant role in the formation of ³LMCT (tBuC≡C→Cu_x) excited state mixed with cluster‐centered (³CC) characters, which can be considerably influenced by temperature, leading to thermochromic luminescence. The present work provides 1) a new synthetic protocol for the high‐nuclear Cu^I–alkynyl clusters; 2) a comprehensive insight into the mechanism of thermochromic luminescence; 3) unusual emissive materials with the characters of NIR and thermochromic luminescence simultaneously.     

Cover Picture: Reversible Wide‐Range Tuneable Luminescence of a Dual‐Stimuli‐ Responsive Silver Cluster‐Assembled Material (Chin. J. Chem. 11/2019)

The cover picture shows a new silver cluster‐assembled material of {[Ag₁₈(S^tBu)₁₀(CF₃COO)₂(PhPO₃)(PhPO₃H)₄(bpy‐NH₂)₂]?(PhPO₃H₂)}_n, being prepared by a facile one‐pot method. Ag₁₈bpy‐NH₂ exhibits reversible luminescent mechanochromism between blue and cyan upon external mechanical stimulation and treatment with ethanol‐acetone. In addition, the as‐synthesized Ag₁₈bpy‐NH₂ also showed reversible luminescent thermochromism from blue at room temperature to bluish white at 83 K and vice versa. More details are discussed in the article by Zang et al. on page 1120–1124.

     

Thermochromic Luminescent Nest‐Like Silver Thiolate Cluster

A novel discrete open high‐nuclearity nest‐like silver thiolate cluster complex, [Ag₃₃S₃(StBu)₁₆(CF₃COO)₉(NO₃)(CH₃CN)₂](NO₃) ( 1 ), has been isolated with nitrate and S^2? anions acting as structure‐directing templates. Its similar nest‐like structure has been assembled into an extended layer [Ag₃₁S₃(StBu)₁₆(NO₃)₉]_n ( 2 ) by adjustment of auxiliary ligand. More interestingly, both complexes exhibit temperature‐dependent luminescence of high sensitivity with a large fluorescence enhancement (12‐fold for 1 , 21‐fold for 2 ), which can be easily recognized by the naked‐eye (dramatic red‐shift Δ=104 nm for 1 , larger Δ=113 nm for 2 at 77 K compared to those at 298 K). The correlation between luminescent thermochromism and temperature‐dependent variation of the coordination modes of template NO₃^? anion, Ag???S and Ag???Ag distances are also elucidated through variable‐temperature single‐crystal X‐ray crystal structure (VT‐SCXRD) analyses.     

A Room‐Temperature Luminescent AgCF3COO Complex Consisting of Cationic Complex Chains and Anionic Guests

Reaction of p‐phenylenediacetonitrile (p‐phda) with AgCF₃COO afforded the coordination polymer, {[Ag₂(p‐phda)₂] [Ag₄(CF₃COO)₆]}_n ( 1 ), where the 1D cationic [Ag₂(p‐phda)₂]²⁺ chain acts as host and the anionic [Ag₄(CF₃COO)₆]^2– as guest molecules occupy the channel between neighboring host chains. This is a rare crystal example of AgCF₃COO complex consisting of cationic complex chains and anionic guests. In addition, complex 1 exhibits luminescence at room temperature in solid state.     

Extra Silver Atom Triggers Room-Temperature Photoluminescence in Atomically Precise Radarlike Silver Clusters

Luminescent metal clusters show promise for applications in imaging and sensing. However, promoting emission from metal clusters at room temperature is a challenging task owing to the lack of an efficient approach to suppress the nonradiative decay process in metal cores. We report herein that the addition of a silver atom into a metal interstice of the radarlike thiolated silver cluster [Ag₂₇(S^tBu)₁₄(S)₂(CF₃COO)₉(DMAc)₄]⋅DMAc ( NC1 , DMAc=dimethylacetamide), which is non-emissive under ambient conditions, produced another silver cluster [Ag₂₈(AdmS)₁₄(S)₂(CF₃COO)₁₀(H₂O)₄] ( NC2 ) that displayed bright green room-temperature photoluminescence aided by the new ligand 1-adamantanethiol (AdmSH). The 28th Ag atom, which hardly affects the geometrical and electronic structures of the Ag–S skeleton, triggered the emission of green light as a result of the rigidity of the cluster structure.     

General Assembly of Twisted Trigonal‐Prismatic Nonanuclear Silver(I) Clusters

A general class of C₃‐symmetric Ag₉ clusters, [Ag₉S(tBuC₆H₄S)₆(dpph)₃(CF₃SO₃)] ( 1 ), [Ag₉(tBuC₆H₄S)₆(dpph)₃(CF₃SO₃)₂] ? CF₃SO₃ ( 2 ), [Ag₉(tBuC₆H₄S)₆(dpph)₃(NO₃)₂] ? NO₃ ( 3 ), and [Ag₉(tBuC₆H₄S)₇(dpph)₃(Mo₂O₇)_0.5]₂ ? 2 CF₃COO ( 4 ) (dpph=1,6‐bis(diphenylphosphino)hexane), with a twisted trigonal‐prism geometry was isolated by the reaction of polymeric {(HNEt₃)₂[Ag₁₀(tBuC₆H₄S)₁₂]}_n, 1,6‐bis(diphenylphosphino)hexane, and various silver salts under solvothermal conditions. The structures consist of discrete clusters constructed from a girdling Ag₉ twisted trigonal prism with the top and bottom trigonal faces capped by diverse anions (i.e., S^2? and CF₃SO₃^? for compound 1 , 2×CF₃SO₃^? for compound 2 , 2×NO₃^? for compound 3 , and tBuC₆H₄S^? and Mo₂O₇^2? for compound 4 ). This trigonal prism is bisected by another shrunken Ag₃ trigon at its waist position. Interestingly, two inversion‐related Ag₉ trigonal‐prismatic clusters are dimerized by the Mo₂O₇^2? ion in compound 4 . The twist is amplified by the bulkier thiolate, which also introduces high steric‐hindrance for the capping ligand, that is, the longer dpph ligand. Four more silver–sulfur clusters (namely, compounds 5 – 8 ) with their nuclearity ranging from 6–10 were solely characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction to verify the above‐described synergetic effect of mixed ligands in the construction of Ag₉ twisted trigonal prisms. Surprisingly, only cluster 1 emits yellow luminescence at λ=584 nm at room temperature, which may be attributed to a charge transfer from the S 3p orbital to the Ag 5s orbital, or mixed with metal‐centered (MC) d¹⁰→d⁹s¹ transitions. Upon cooling from 300 to 80 K, the emission intensity was enhanced along with a hypsochromic shift. The good linear relationship between the maximum emission intensity and the temperature for compound 1 in the range of 180–300 K indicates that this is a promising molecular luminescent thermometer. Furthermore, cyclic voltammetric studies indicated that the diffusion‐ and surface‐controlled redox processes were determined for compounds 1 and 3 as well as compound 4 , respectively.     

Cu Doping-Induced Transformation from [Ag62S12(SBut)32]2+ to [Ag62−xCuxS12(SBut)32]4+ Nanocluster

The change in the valence state of nanocluster can induce remarkable changes in the properties and structure. However, achieving the valence state changes in nanoclusters is still a challenge. In this work, we use Cu²⁺ as dopant to “oxidize” [Ag₆₂S₁₂(SBu^t)₃₂]²⁺ (4 free electrons) to obtain the new nanocluster: [Ag_62−xCu_xS₁₂(SBu^t)₃₂]⁴⁺ with 2 free electrons. As revealed by its structure, the [Ag_62−xCu_xS₁₂(SBu^t)₃₂]⁴⁺ (x=10∼21) has a similar structure to that of [Ag₆₂S₁₂(SBu^t)₃₂]²⁺ precursor and all the Cu atoms occupy the surface site of nanocluster. It′s worth noting that with the Cu atoms doping, the [Ag_62−xCu_xS₁₂(SBu^t)₃₂]⁴⁺ nanocluster is more stable than [Ag₆₂S₁₂(SBu^t)₃₂]²⁺ at higher temperature and in electrochemical cycle. This result has laid a foundation for the subsequent application and exploration. Overall, this work reveals crystals structure of a new Ag−Cu nanocluster and offers a new insight into the electron reduction/oxidation of nanocluster.     

Linker Flexibility-Dependent Cluster Transformations and Cluster-Controlled Luminescence in Isostructural Silver Cluster-Assembled Materials (SCAMs)

Silver chalcogenolate clusters (SCCs) and silver cluster-assembled materials (SCAMs) are an important category of novel luminescent materials, the emission of which can be modulated by variation of the cluster nodes and linker species. Here, the successfully synthesis of two isostructural 2D SCAMs is reported: Ag₁₂bpa and Ag₁₂bpe are formed by using two linkers with different conformational freedom (bpa=1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane, bpe=1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene), with dodenuclear silver chalcogenolate clusters as secondary building units (SBUs). Interestingly, nonluminescent Ag₁₂bpa at room temperature could quickly transform into 1D Ag₁₀bpa , with concomitant dissociation of two silver atoms and the remaining ten silver atoms rearranging in the cluster, thus exhibiting an intense yellow phosphorescence after being triggered by acetonitrile (CH₃CN). Similarly, stimulating Ag₁₂bpe with CH₃CN, by contrast, gave another 2D structure Ag₁₂bpe-1b with the distorted SBUs and different topology structure, and both of them are merely red-emissive at low temperature. To note, after exchanging ligands, room-temperature nonluminescent 2D Ag₁₂bpe-1b can be transformed into intensely luminescent 1D Ag₁₀bpa . This linker-flexibility-dependent structural transformation and cluster-based SBU controlled luminescence remains scarce. Our work provides new insights into structure–luminescence relationship in clustered metal–organic frameworks and intelligent stimulus-responsive luminescent materials.     

Structure‐Directing Forces in Intercluster Compounds of Cationic [Ag14(CCtBu)12Cl]+ Building Blocks and Polyoxometalates: Long‐Range versus Short‐Range Bonding Interactions

Crystallization of [Ag₁₄(C?CtBu)₁₂Cl][BF₄] and different polyoxometalates in organic solvents yields a series of new intercluster compounds: [Ag₁₄(C?CtBu)₁₂Cl(CH₃CN)]₂[W₆O₁₉] ( 1 ), (nBu₄N)[Ag₁₄(C?CtBu)₁₂Cl(CH₃CN)]₂[PW₁₂O₄₀] ( 2 ), and [Ag₁₄(C?CtBu)₁₂Cl]₂[Ag₁₄(C?CtBu)₁₂Cl(CH₃CN)]₂[SiMo₁₂O₄₀] ( 3 ). Applying the same technique to a system starting from polymeric {[Ag₃(C?CtBu)₂][BF₄]?0.6 H₂O}_n and the polyoxometalate (nBu₄N)₂[W₆O₁₉] results in the formation of [Ag₁₄(C?CtBu)₁₂(CH₃CN)₂][W₆O₁₉] ( 4 ). Here, the Ag₁₄ cluster is generated from polymeric {[Ag₃(C?CtBu)₂][BF₄]?0.6 H₂O}_n during crystallization. In a similar way, [Ag₁₅(C?CtBu)₁₂(CH₃CN)₅][PW₁₂O₄₀] ( 5 ) has been obtained from {[Ag₃(C?CtBu)₂][BF₄]?0.6 H₂O}_n and (nBu₄N)₃[PW₁₂O₄₀]. The use of charged building blocks was intentional, because at these conditions the contribution of long‐range Coulomb interactions would benefit most from full periodicity of the intercluster compound, thus favoring formation of well‐crystalline materials. The latter has been achieved, indeed. However, as a most conspicuous feature, equally charged species aggregate, which demonstrates that the short‐range interactions between the “surfaces” of the clusters represent the more powerful structure direction forces than the long‐range Coulomb bonding. This observation is of significant importance for understanding the mechanisms underlying self‐organization of monodisperse and structurally well‐defined particles of nanometer size.     

Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Optical Properties of Europium Trifluoroacetate Complexes with 1,10-Phenanthroline and 2,2-Bipyridine

Two europium trifluoroacetate complexes, Eu(CF₃COO)₃·phen ( 1 ) and Eu(CF₃COO)₃·bpy ( 2 ) (where phen=1,10‐phenanthroline, bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TA). Single‐crystal X‐ray structure has been determined for the complex [Eu₂(CF₃COO)₆·(phen)₃·(H₂O)₂]·EtOH. The crystal structure of [Eu₂(CF₃COO)₆·(phen)₃·(H₂O)₂]·EtOH shows that two different coordination styles with europium ions coexist in the same crystal and have entirely different coordination geometries and numbers. This crystal can be considered as an 1:1 adduct of [Eu(CF₃COO)₃·(Phen)₂·H₂O]·EtOH (9‐coordination part) and Eu(CF₃COO)₃·phen·H₂O (8‐coordination part). The excitation spectra of the two complexes demonstrate that the energy collected by "antenna ligands" is transferred to Eu³⁺ ions efficiently. The room‐temperature PL spectra of the complexes are composed of the typical Eu³⁺ ions red emission, due to transitions between ⁵D₀→⁷F_J(J=0→4). The lifetimes of ⁵D₀ of Eu³⁺ in the complexes were examined using time‐resolved spectroscopic analysis, and the lifetime values of Eu(CF₃COO)₃·phen and Eu(CF₃COO)₃·bpy were fitting with bi‐exponential (2987 and 353 µs) and monoexponential (3191 µs) curves, respectively. In order to elucidate the energy transfer process of the europium complexes, the energy levels of the relevant electronic states had been estimated. The thermal analyses indicate that they are all quite stable to heat.     

Time‐Resolved Assembly of Cluster‐in‐Cluster {Ag12}‐in‐{W76} Polyoxometalates under Supramolecular Control

We report the time‐resolved supramolecular assembly of a series of nanoscale polyoxometalate clusters (from the same one‐pot reaction) of the form: [H_(10+m)Ag₁₈Cl(Te₃W₃₈O₁₃₄)₂]_n, where n=1 and m=0 for compound 1 (after 4 days), n=2 and m=3 for compound 2 (after 10 days), and n=∞ and m=5 for compound 3 (after 14 days). The reaction is based upon the self‐organization of two {Te₃W₃₈} units around a single chloride template and the formation of a {Ag₁₂} cluster, giving a {Ag₁₂}‐in‐{W₇₆} cluster‐in‐cluster in compound 1 , which further aggregates to cluster compounds 2 and 3 by supramolecular Ag‐POM interactions. The proposed mechanism for the formation of the clusters has been studied by ESI‐MS. Further, control experiments demonstrate the crucial role that TeO₃^2?, Cl^?, and Ag⁺ play in the self‐assembly of compounds 1 – 3 .     

Silver Thiolate Nano‐sized Molecular Clusters and Their Supramolecular Covalent Frameworks: An Approach Toward Pre‐templated Synthesis

A series of seven new complexes including silver‐thiolate molecular clusters and their covalent supramolecular frameworks have been assembled from the silver carbide precursor Ag₂C₂ using a C₂²⁻ pre‐templated approach. Herein, two prototype clusters Ag₁₄(SR)₆ and CO₃@Ag_m (SR)₁₀ (R=isopropyl, cyclohexyl or tert ‐butyl; m= 18 or 20) are employed to construct cluster‐based metal–organic frameworks of different dimensions. In particular, both new ellipsoidal tetradecanuclear molecular cluster compounds, namely, Ag₁₄(S‐i Pr)₆(CO₂CF₃)₈⋅(DMSO)₆ (two polymorphic forms 1 , 2 ) and [Ag₁₄(S‐Cy)₆(CO₂CF₃)₈(DMSO)₄]⋅(DMSO)₃ ( 3 ), and a cluster‐based metal–organic framework {Ag₃[Ag₁₄(S‐i Pr)₆(CO₂CF₃)₁₁(H₂O)₃CH₃OH]⋅(H₂O)_2.5}_n ( 4 ) have been isolated and structurally characterized. Furthermore, increased acidity of the reaction mixture afforded three carboxylate‐templated cluster based frameworks: a chain‐like compound {[HN(CH₃)₂CO]⋅[CO₃@Ag₁₈(S‐t Bu)₁₀(NO₃)₇(DMF)₄]⋅DMF}_n ( 5 ), as well as two layer‐type compounds, namely, {Ag[CO₃@Ag₂₀(S‐i Pr)₁₀(CO₂CF₃)₉(CO₂HCF₃)(CH₃OH)₂]}_n ( 6 ) and {Ag₂[CO₃@Ag₂₀(S‐Cy)₁₀(CO₂CF₃)₁₀(CO₂HCF₃)₂(H₂O)₂]⋅(H₂O)₃⋅(CH₃OH)₃}_n ( 7 ) exhibiting sql ‐net characteristics. It is demonstrated that the C≡C²⁻ pre‐template, which draws several Ag⁺ ions together to form the C₂@Ag_n entity, plays an indispensable role in the syntheses of these compounds. Furthermore, covalent linkage of these nano‐sized silver thiolate clusters from one‐ to three‐dimensions revealed enormous potential for the future development of silver cluster‐based frameworks.     

Site Preference in Multimetallic Nanoclusters: Incorporation of Alkali Metal Ions or Copper Atoms into the Alkynyl‐Protected Body‐Centered Cubic Cluster [Au7Ag8(C≡CtBu)12]+

The synthesis, structure, substitution chemistry, and optical properties of the gold‐centered cubic monocationic cluster [Au@Ag₈@Au₆(C≡C^tBu)₁₂]⁺ are reported. The metal framework of this cluster can be described as a fragment of a body‐centered cubic (bcc) lattice with the silver and gold atoms occupying the vertices and the body center of the cube, respectively. The incorporation of alkali metal atoms gave rise to [M_nAg_8?nAu₇(C≡C^tBu)₁₂]⁺ clusters (n=1 for M=Na, K, Rb, Cs and n=2 for M=K, Rb), with the alkali metal ion(s) presumably occupying the vertex site(s), whereas the incorporation of copper atoms produced [Cu_nAg₈Au_7?n(C≡C^tBu)₁₂]⁺ clusters (n=1–6), with the Cu atom(s) presumably occupying the capping site(s). The parent cluster exhibited strong emission in the near‐IR region (λ_max=818 nm) with a quantum yield of 2 % upon excitation at λ=482 nm. Its photoluminescence was quenched upon substitution with a Na⁺ ion. DFT calculations confirmed the superatom characteristics of the title compound and the sodium‐substituted derivatives.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Third‐order Nonlinear Optical Properties of Nest‐shaped Cluster [CuBr(bpy)2] [MoOS3Cu3‐Br2(bpy)]

Nest‐shaped cluster [CuBr(bpy)₂][MoOS₃Cu3Br₂(bpy)] was synthesized by the treatment of (NH₄)₂ MOO₂S₂, CuBr and Et₄NBr with bpy (2,2′‐bipyridyl) in CH₃CN. Its structure has been characterized by X‐ray diffraction; monoclinic, space group P2₁/n ‐ with a = l.0092(4), b = 2.6347(7), c = 1.4087(3) nm, β = 91.744(9)°, V = 3.7438 nm³, Z=4, and final R = 0.051, R_w = 0.053. It consists of two parts: nest‐shaped structural unit [MoOS₃Cu₃Br₂(bpy)] and complex ion [CuBr(bpy)²]⁺. We determined its third‐order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties with a 7‐ns pulsed laser at 532 nm. The duster exhibits strong NLO refractive behavior, its third‐order susceptibility χ⁽³⁾ was calculated to be 2.7 · 10^?11 esu in a 7.8 · 10^?4 g/cm³ DMF solution. The value is comparable to those of inorganic dusters.     

Nestlike Silver(I) Thiolate Clusters with Tunable Emission Color Templated by Heteroanions

Four silver thiolate clusters, [H₃O][(Ag₃S₃)(BF₄)@Ag₂₇(tBuS)₁₈(hfac)₆H₂O] ⋅ H₂O ( 1 ; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetone), [(Ag₃S₃)(CF₃CO₂)@Ag₃₀(tBuS)₁₆(CF₃CO₂)₉(CH₃CN)₄] ⋅ CF₃CO₂ ⋅ 4 CH₃CN ( 2 ), [(Ag₃S₃)(MoO₄)@Ag₃₀(tBuS)₁₆(CF₃CO₂)₉(CH₃CN)₄] ⋅ 2 CH₃CN ( 3 ), and [(Ag₃S₃)(CrO₄)@Ag₃₀(tBuS)₁₆(CF₃CO₂)₉(CH₃CN)₄] ⋅ 4 CH₃CN ( 4 ), were isolated. They have similar nestlike structures assembled by an [Ag₃S₃]³⁻ template together with one of the BF₄⁻, CF₃CO₂⁻, MoO₄²⁻, or CrO₄²⁻ anions. Interestingly, the solid-state emissions of 2 – 4 are dependent on the templating anions and are tunable from green to orange and then to red by changing the template from CF₃CO₂⁻ to MoO₄²⁻ and to CrO₄²⁻, and this may be correlated to the charge transfer between these templates to metal atoms. This work helps to understand the templating role of heteroanions and the relationship between structure and properties.     

Cross-Coupling through Ag(I)/Ag(III) Redox Manifold

In ample variety of transformations, the presence of silver as an additive or co-catalyst is believed to be innocuous for the efficiency of the operating metal catalyst. Even though Ag additives are required often as coupling partners, oxidants or halide scavengers, its role as a catalytically competent species is widely neglected in cross-coupling reactions. Most likely, this is due to the erroneously assumed incapacity of Ag to undergo 2e⁻ redox steps. Definite proof is herein provided for the required elementary steps to accomplish the oxidative trifluoromethylation of arenes through Ag^I/Ag^III redox catalysis (i. e. CEL coupling), namely: i) easy Ag^I/Ag^III 2e⁻ oxidation mediated by air; ii) bpy/phen ligation to Ag^III; iii) boron-to-Ag^III aryl transfer; and iv) ulterior reductive elimination of benzotrifluorides from an [aryl-Ag^III-CF₃] fragment. More precisely, an ultimate entry and full characterization of organosilver(III) compounds [K]⁺[Ag^III(CF₃)₄]⁻ ( K-1 ), [(bpy)Ag^III(CF₃)₃] ( 2 ) and [(phen)Ag^III(CF₃)₃] ( 3 ), is described. The utility of 3 in cross-coupling has been showcased unambiguously, and a large variety of arylboron compounds was trifluoromethylated via [Ag^III(aryl)(CF₃)₃]⁻ intermediates. This work breaks with old stereotypes and misconceptions regarding the inability of Ag to undergo cross-coupling by itself.     

A Temperature‐Sensitive Luminescent Ag42 Nanocluster Supported by TertButyl Thiol Ligands

Compound [Ag₄₂S₅(StBu)₂₅(CF₃COO)₄(CO₃)](CO₃)_0.5?CH₂Cl₂?4CH₃OH?9DMF ( 1 ) has been obtained and well defined. It consists of a multi‐shell structure involving two Ag centres, one Ag₅S₅ pentagram, two Ag₅S₅ pentagons and one Ag₂₅S₁₅ shell. Compound 1 has been characterized by XPS, FT‐IR, PXRD, TGA, NMR, MS, UV/Vis spectrum, TEM and cyclic voltammetry. Temperature‐sensitive luminescent property of 1 has also been investigated.