Photoinduced Isomerization-Driven Structural Transformation between Decanuclear and Octadecanuclear Gold(I) Sulfido Clusters

Upon photoirradiation, isomerization of the ligands, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethene (dppee) from the cis to the trans form in polynuclear gold(I) sulfido clusters, led to the structural transformation of the decagold(I) cluster to the octadecagold(I) cluster. Both polynuclear μ₃-sulfido gold(I) clusters have been fully characterized by NMR, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The transformation process could be readily detected and monitored by UV-vis absorption, emission, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy in solution. Supported and driven by Au(I)⋯ Au(I) bonding interactions, the nuclearity and symmetry of these clusters were largely different from each other, resulting in completely distinct photophysical features.