Luminescent Hydride-Free [Cu₇(SC₅H₉)₇(PPh₃)₃] Nanocluster: Facilitating Highly Selective C–C Bond Formation

Abstract

Amidst burgeoning interest, atomically precise copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) have emerged as a remarkable class of nanomaterials distinguished by their unparalleled reactivity. Nonetheless, the synthesis of hydride-free Cu NCs and their role as stable catalysts remain infrequently explored. Here, we introduce a facile synthetic approach to fabricate a hydride-free [Cu 7 (SC 5 H 9 ) 7 (PPh 3 ) 3 ] (Cu 7 ) NC and delineate its photophysical properties intertwined with their structural configuration. Moreover, the utilization of its photophysical properties in a photoinduced C−C coupling reaction demonstrates remarkable specificity toward cross-coupling products with high yields. The combined experimental and theoretical investigation reveals a nonradical mechanistic pathway distinct from its counterparts, offering promising prospects for designing hydride-free Cu NC catalysts in the future and unveiling the selectivity of the hydride-free [Cu 7 (SC 5 H 9 ) 7 (PPh 3 ) 3 ] NC in photoinduced Sonogashira C−C coupling through a polar reaction pathway.