The first atomically and structurally precise silver-nanoclusters stabilized by Se-donor ligands, [Ag {Se P(O Pr) } ] (3) and [Ag {Se P(OEt) } ] (4), were isolated by ligand replacement reaction of [Ag {S P(O Pr) } ] (1) and [Ag {S P(O Pr) } ] (2), respectively. Furthermore, doping reactions of 4 with Au(PPh )Cl resulted in the formation of [AuAg {Se P(OEt) } ] (5). Structures of 3, 4, and 5 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The anatomy of cluster 3 with an Ag core having C symmetry is very similar to that of its dithiophosphate analogue 1. Clusters 4 and 5 exhibit an Ag and Au@Ag core of O symmetry composed of eight silver capping atoms in a cubic arrangement and encapsulating an Ag and Au@Ag centered icosahedron, respectively. Both ligand exchange and heteroatom doping result in significant changes in optical and emissive properties for chalcogen-passivated silver nanoparticles, which have been theoretically confirmed as 8-electron superatoms.

An air- and moisture-stable nanoscale polyhydrido copper cluster [Cu32 (H)20 {S2 P(OiPr)2 }12 ] (1H ) was synthesized and structurally characterized. The molecular structure of 1H exhibits a hexacapped pseudo-rhombohedral core of 14 Cu atoms sandwiched between two nestlike triangular cupola fragments of (2×9) Cu atoms in an elongated triangular gyrobicupola polyhedron. The discrete Cu32 cluster is stabilized by 12 dithiophosphate ligands and a record number of 20 hydride ligands, which were found by high-resolution neutron diffraction to exhibit tri-, tetra-, and pentacoordinated hydrides in capping and interstitial modes. This result was further supported by a density functional theory investigation on the simplified model [Cu32 (H)20 (S2 PH2 )12 ].

A novel discrete [Ag21{S2P(OiPr)2}12](PF6) nanocluster has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and also NMR spectroscopy ((1)H, (31)P), ESI mass spectrometry, and other analytic techniques (XPS, EDS, UV/Vis spectroscopy). The Ag21 skeleton has an unprecedented silver-centered icosahedron that is capped by eight additional metal atoms. The whole framework is protected by twelve dithiophosphate ligands. According to the spherical Jellium model, the stability of monocationic nanocluster can be described by an 8-electron superatom with 1S(2) 1P(6) configuration, as confirmed by DFT calculations.

The synthesis and structural determination of a silver nanocluster [Ag20 {S2 P(OiPr)2 }12 ] (2), which contains an intrinsic chiral metallic core, is produced by reduction of one silver ion from the eight-electron superatom complex [Ag21 {S2 P(OiPr)2 }12 ](PF6 ) (1) by borohydrides. Single-crystal X-ray analysis displays an Ag20 core of pseudo C3 symmetry comprising a silver-centered Ag13 icosahedron capped by seven silver atoms. Its n-propyl derivative, [Ag20 {S2 P(OnPr)2 }12 ] (3), can also be prepared by the treatment of silver(I) salts and dithiophosphates in a stoichiometric ratio in the presence of excess amount of [BH4 ](-) . Crystal structure analyses reveal that the capping silver-atom positions relative to their icosahedral core are distinctly different in 2 and 3 and generate isomeric, chiral Ag20 cores. Both Ag20 clusters display an emission maximum in the near IR region. DFT calculations are consistent with a description within the superatom model of an 8-electron [Ag13 ](5+) core protected by a [Ag7 {S2 P(OR)2 }12 ](5-) external shell. Two additional structural variations are predicted by DFT, showing the potential for isomerism in such [Ag20 {S2 P(OR)2 }12 ] species.

The first structurally characterized copper cluster with a Cu centered cuboctahedral arrangement, a model of the bulk copper fcc structure, was observed in [Cu (S CN Bu ) (C≡CR) ](PF ) (R=C(O)OMe, C H F) nanoclusters. Four of the eight triangular faces of the cuboctahedron are capped by acetylide groups in μ fashion, and each of the six square faces is bridged by a dithiolate ligand in μ ,μ fashion, which leads to a truncated tetrahedron of twelve sulfur atoms. DFT calculations are fully consistent with the description of these Cu clusters as two-electron superatoms, that is, a [Cu ] core passivated by ten monoanionic ligands, with an a HOMO containing two 1S jellium electrons.

Controlling the metal nanoclusters with atomic precision is highly difficult and further studies on their transformation reactions are even more challenging. Herein we report the controlled formation of a silver alloy nanocluster [AuAg19{S2P(OnPr)2}12] (1) from an Ag20 template via a galvanic exchange route. X-ray structural analysis reveals that the alloy structure comprises of a gold-centered Ag12 icosahedron, Au@Ag12, capped by seven silver atoms. Interestingly upon reacting with one equiv. of silver(i) salt, (1) can transform into a higher nuclearity nanocluster, [Au@Ag20{S2P(OnPr)2}12]+ (2). The conversion process is studied via ESI mass spectrometry and 31P NMR spectroscopy. This kind of size-structural transformation at the single atom level is quite remarkable. Furthermore, the compositions of all the doped nanoclusters (1, 2) were fully characterized with ESI-MS and EDS. The blue shift depicted in the UV-visible and emission spectra of the doped nanoclusters (1, 2) compared with the precursor, Ag20, demonstrates that the doping atoms have significant effects on the electronic structures.

The structurally precise Cu‐rich hydride nanoclusters [PdCu14H2(dtc/dtp)6(C≡CPh)6] (dtc: di‐butyldithiocarbamate (1); dtp: di‐isopropyl dithiophosphate (2)) were synthesized from the reaction of polyhydrido copper clusters [Cu28H15(S2CNnBu2)12]+ or [Cu20H11{S2P(OiPr)2}9] with phenyl acetylene in the presence of Pd(PPh3)2Cl2. Their structures and compositions were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and the results supported by ESI‐mass spectrometry. Hydride positions in 1 were confirmed by single‐crystal neutron diffraction. Each hydride is connected to one Pd0 and four CuI atoms in slightly distorted trigonalbipyramidal geometry. The anatomies of clusters 1 and 2 are very similar and DFT calculations allow rationalizing the interactions between the encapsulated [PdH2]2− unit and its Cu14 bicapped icosahedral cage. As a result, Pd has the highest coordination number (14) so far recorded.

A templated galvanic exchange performed on [Ag20{Se2P(OiPr)2}12] of C3 symmetry with three equiv AuI yields a mixture of [Au1+xAg20−x{Se2P(OiPr)2}12]+ (x=0–2) from which [Au@Ag20{Se2P(OiPr)2}12]+ and [Au@Au2Ag18{Se2P(OiPr)2}12]+ are successfully characterized to have T and C1 symmetry, respectively. Crystal structural analyses combined with DFT calculations on the model compounds explicitly demonstrate that the central Ag0 of Ag20 being oxidized by AuI migrates to the protecting atomic shell as a new capping AgI, and both second and third Au dopants prefer occupying non‐adjacent icosahedron vertices. The differences in symmetry, T and C1, are manifested in the spatial orientation of their protecting atomic shell composed of eight capping Ag atoms as well as re‐construction upon the replacement of Ag atoms on the vertices of AuAg12 icosahedral core with second and third Au dopants. As a result, a unique pathway for substitutional‐doped clusters with increased nuclearity is proposed.