title: On the flexibility of the gold-thiolate interface: racemization of the Au40(SR)24 cluster.
abstract: The two enantiomers of the Au40(2-PET)24 cluster were collected using HPLC and analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, UV-vis- and CD-spectroscopy. The flexibility of the cluster surface allows racemization of the intrinsically chiral cluster at elevated temperatures (80-130 °C) which was monitored following the optical activity. The determined activation energy (25 kcal mol(-1)) lies in the range of previously reported values for Au38 nanoclusters whereas the activation entropy deviates significantly from the one in Au38. The latter may indicate that the racemization can take place via different mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. Thomas.Buergi@unige.ch.
authors.forename: Birte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Varnholt
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dolamic
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knoppe
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bürgi