A Ligand-Protected Golden Fullerene: The Dipyridylamido Au328+ Nanocluster

A golden fullerene Au-32 cluster has been synthesized with amido and phosphine ligands as the protecting agents. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis revealed that this gold nanocluster, [Au-32(Ph3P)(8)(dpa)(6)] (SbF6)(2) (Hdpa=2,2'-dipyridylamine), has a stable pseudo-I-h Au-32(8+) core with S-6 symmetry, which features an Au-12@Au-20 Keplerate cage co-protected by Ph3P and dpa ligands. Quantum-chemical studies were conducted to elucidate the origin of the special stability of this cluster, and suggest that it is electronically stabilized through metal-ligand interactions.