Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
08:31
Anaerobic Protein Purification and Kinetic Analysis via Oxygen Electrode for Studying DesB Dioxygenase Activity and Inhibition
Published on: October 3, 2018
Au10-: isomerism and structure-dependent O2 reactivity.
1Department of Physics, Washington State University, 2710 University Drive, Richland, Washington, 99354, USA.
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP
|May 8, 2009
Summary
The study reveals that the stable triangular gold cluster (Au(10)(-)) does not react with oxygen (O(2)). However, less stable isomers of the gold cluster are reactive and can be removed, isolating the stable form.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Surface Science
Background:
- Understanding the chemical reactivity of gold clusters is crucial for catalysis and materials science.
- Gold clusters exhibit diverse structures and electronic properties, influencing their reactivity.
- Investigating specific isomers of gold clusters provides insights into structure-reactivity relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural isomers of the Au(10)(-) cluster.
- To determine the chemical reactivity of these isomers with molecular oxygen (O(2)).
- To differentiate the reactivity of the global minimum structure from low-lying isomers.
Main Methods:
- Photoelectron spectroscopy was employed to study the electronic properties of Au(10)(-).
- Argon tagging was used to distinguish different cluster isomers.
- Oxygen titration experiments were conducted under varying conditions to assess reactivity.
Main Results:
- At least four distinct structural isomers of Au(10)(-) were identified, including the global minimum D(3h) structure.
- The D(3h) isomer possesses a high electron affinity (3.88 eV) and is unreactive with O(2), forming only a van der Waals complex.
- Three low-lying isomers with lower electron affinities (2.86–3.45 eV) are reactive with O(2) and can be selectively removed from the cluster beam.
Conclusions:
- The global minimum D(3h) Au(10)(-) structure is chemically inert towards O(2) under the studied conditions.
- Low-lying isomers of Au(10)(-) exhibit significant reactivity with O(2), enabling their selective removal.
- This work highlights the importance of structural isomerism in determining the chemical behavior of gold clusters.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:34Structural Isomerism
Isomerism in Complexes
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...
02:52Resonance
The Lewis structure of a nitrite anion (NO2−) may actually be drawn in two different ways, distinguished by the locations of the N-O and N=O bonds.
02:16Resonance and Hybrid Structures
According to the theory of resonance, if two or more Lewis structures with the same arrangement of atoms can be written for a molecule, ion, or radical, the actual distribution of electrons is an average of that shown by the various Lewis structures.
Resonance Structures and Resonance Hybrids
The Lewis structure of a nitrite anion (NO2−) may actually be drawn in two different ways, distinguished by the locations of the N–O and N=O bonds.
Resonance Structures and Resonance Hybrids
The Lewis structure of a nitrite anion (NO2−) may actually be drawn in two different ways, distinguished by the locations of the N–O and N=O bonds.
01:34Woodward–Hoffmann Selection Rules and Microscopic Reversibility
Electrocyclic reactions, cycloadditions, and sigmatropic rearrangements are concerted pericyclic reactions that proceed via a cyclic transition state. These reactions are stereospecific and regioselective. The stereochemistry of the products depends on the symmetry characteristics of the interacting orbitals and the reaction conditions. Accordingly, pericyclic reactions are classified as either symmetry-allowed or symmetry-forbidden. Woodward and Hoffmann presented the selection criteria for...
01:15Enolate Mechanism Conventions
When a carbonyl compound is treated with a strong base, the α position gets deprotonated to give a resonance-stabilized intermediate called an enolate. Enolates are ambident nucleophiles because they possess two nucleophilic sites that can attack an electrophile owing to the delocalization of the negative charge between the α carbon and oxygen atoms. When the oxygen atom attacks an electrophile, it is called O-attack, whereas electrophilic attack via the α carbon is known as C-attack.
C-attack...
C-attack...
01:11ortho–para-Directing Activators: –CH3, –OH, –NH2, –OCH3
All ortho–para directors, excluding halogens, are activating groups. These groups donate electrons to the ring, making the ring carbons electron-rich. Consequently, the reactivity of the aromatic ring towards electrophilic substitution increases. For instance, the nitration of anisole is about 10,000 times faster than the nitration of benzene. The electron-donating effect of the methoxy group in anisole activates the ortho and para positions on the ring and stabilizes the corresponding...