Functionalized Gold Clusters Enable Photoelectrocatalytic Hydrogenation at Mild Conditions
Dr. Yu Wang and collaborators have successfully isolated an undecagold cluster protected by functional secondary phosphine oxide (SPO) ligands. While coordinating to gold via the phosphorus atom, the SPO ligand keeps its O atom available to act as a nucleophile. Deposition of the clusters onto p-type bismuth oxide leads to staggered energy level system, in which the photoinduced electrons accumulate on the LUMO of the cluster for reduction reactions. Due to the presence of nucleophilic O atom on SPO, the cluster is heterolytically hydrogenated upon illumination and shows high selectivity toward hydrogenation of polar C═O bond in benzaldehyde rather than hydrogen production.
Copyright ACS
“Secondary Phosphine Oxide Functionalized Gold Clusters and Their Application in Photoelectrocatalytic Hydrogenation Reactions”
Y. Wang, X. Liu, R. Wang, B. Cula, Z. Chen, Q. Chen, N. Koch, and N. Pinna, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2021, DOI:.1021/jacs.1c04048
Article Links: https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.1c04048
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