A Ligand-Protected Golden Fullerene: The Dipyridylamido Au32 8+ Nanocluster.

A golden fullerene Au32 cluster has been synthesized with amido and phosphine ligands as the protecting agents. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis revealed that this gold nanocluster, [Au32 (Ph3 P)8 (dpa)6 ] (SbF6 )2 (Hdpa=2,2'-dipyridylamine), has a stable pseudo-Ih Au32 8+ core with S6 symmetry, which features an Au12 @Au20 Keplerate cage co-protected by Ph3 P 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.