[Cu 32 (PET) 24 H 8 Cl 2 ](PPh 4 ) 2 : A Copper Hydride Nanocluster with a Bisquare Antiprismatic Core

Atomically precise coinage metal (Au, Ag, and Cu) nanoclusters (NCs) have been the subject of immense interest for their intriguing structural, photophysical, and catalytic properties. However, the synthesis of Cu NCs is highly challenging because of low reduction potential and high reactivity of copper, demonstrating the need for new synthetic methods using appropriate ligand combinations. By designing a diamine-assisted synthetic strategy, here we report the synthesis and total structure characterization of a box-like dianionic Cu NC [Cu 32 (PET) 24 H 8 Cl 2 ](PPh 4 ) 2 coprotected by 2-phenylethanethiolate (PET), hydride, and chloride ligands. Its crystal structure comprises a rare bisquare antiprismatic Cu 14 H 8 core, assembled by two square antiprisms by edge sharing, followed by hydride binding. The rod-shaped Cu 14 H 8 core is clamped by two complex Cu 7 (PET) 11 Cl and two simpl…