Crystal Structure of the Gold Nanoparticle [N(C8H17)4][Au25(SCH2CH2Ph)18]

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130 (12), 3754 -3755, 2008. 10.1021/ja800561b S0002-7863(80)00561-6
Web Release Date: March 6, 2008

Crystal Structure of the Gold Nanoparticle [N(C₈H₁₇)₄][Au₂₅(SCH₂CH₂Ph)₁₈]

Michael W. Heaven, Amala Dass, Peter S. White, Kennedy M. Holt, and Royce W. Murray*

Kenan Laboratories of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290

rwm@email.unc.edu

Received January 29, 2008

Abstract:

We report the crystal structure of the thiolate gold nanoparticle [TOA⁺][Au₂₅(SCH₂CH₂Ph)₁₈^-], where TOA⁺ = N(C₈H₁₇)₄⁺. The crystal structure reveals three types of gold atoms: (a) one central gold atom whose coordination number is 12 (12 bonds to gold atoms); (b) 12 gold atoms that form the vertices of an icosahedron around the central atom, whose coordination number is 6 (five bonds to gold atoms and one to a sulfur atom), and (c) 12 gold atoms that are stellated on 12 of the 20 faces of the Au₁₃ icosahedron. The arrangement of the latter gold atoms may be influenced by aurophilic bonding. Together they form six orthogonal semirings, or staples, of -Au₂(SCH₂CH₂Ph)₃- in an octahedral arrangement around the Au₁₃ core.

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