Metal nanoclusters occupy the size range between molecular complexes and larger nanoparticles. They have potential applications in, e..g, catalysis, photonics, electronics, and biology. Research has often focused on gold and silver nanoclusters. However, copper can also be interesting in nanocluster research due to its lower cost, abundance, and electronic properties. So far, work on copper nanoclusters has most often considered hydride-doped nanoclusters.

Zongjie Guan, Hunan University, Changsha, China, Hui Shen, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China, Nanfeng Zheng, Xiamen University, China, and Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen, and colleagues have developed a stable selenide-doped copper nanocluster with uses in catalysis. The team prepared the nanocluster [Cu₃₂Se₇(BnSe)₁₈(PPh₃)₆]₊ (Bn = benzyl) by reducing copper salts in the presence of organic diselenides.

The structure of the Cu₃₂Se₇-based cluster (simplified structure pictured with selenium in pink) was determined via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The team found that the nanocluster features a core–shell arrangement of the type Cu₂₀Se₇@Cu₁₂(BnSe)₁₈(PPh₃)₆. The cluster showed significant catalytic activity and good recyclability in the hydroboration of alkynes (example reaction pictured). Overall, the work provides a model for investigating selenide-doped metal nanoclusters beyond copper.

• Atomically precise Cu₃₂ nanoclusters with selenide doping: Synthesis, bonding, and catalysis,
  Rong Huo, Rui Ren, Lin Wang, Qinghua Xu, Bingzheng Yan, Jiangwei Zhang, Qingxiang Guo, Zongjie Guan, Hui Shen, Nanfeng Zheng,
  Aggregate 2024.
  https://doi.org/10.1002/agt2.679