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Richstein, Robert, Eisen, Constantin, Thomas, Sophie R. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1110-430X, Chin, Jia Min and Reithofer, Michael R.
(2026)
One-pot installation of N-heterocyclic carbenes on gold nanoparticles through counterion-dependent mild-base activation.
Nanoscale.
ISSN 2040-3364
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Abstract
N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-stabilized gold nanoparticles offer exceptional chemical and thermal stability, yet their installation typically requires multistep procedures, strong bases, or strictly inert conditions. We report a practical one-pot method that enables high-coverage NHC functionalization of gold nanoparticles using only imidazolium salts and a mild base. Systematic control experiments and spectroscopic analysis suggest a counterion-dependent mild-base activation pathway in which persistent HCO3−/CO2-derived intermediates are not observed under the applied reaction conditions. Instead, the data are most consistent with the formation of an intermediate that, in proximity to the nanoparticle interface, decomposes to form an Au–C bond. Optimized reaction conditions enable quantitative ligand exchange while suppressing particle ripening. The method is tolerant to air and moisture and is applicable to a broad range of NHC precursors, including benzimidazolium, imidazolinium, and mesoionic carbenes, as well as to different nanoparticle systems based on gold, silver, and copper. These results provide a general and mild strategy for preparing robust NHC-functionalized nanomaterials.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Data availability: All experimental data supporting this study are provided in the supplementary information (SI). Supplementary information: complete synthetic procedures, characterization data, and optimized reaction conditions, comprehensive ligand scope and substrate screening, detailed particle characterization via XPS, TEM and UV-Vis spectroscopy, SERS analysis of model compound 1-Br and other NHC precursor materials, and mechanistic studies comprising time-resolved in situ NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry of NHC precursors with various counter ions. See DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d6nr01951j. |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Science > School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 11 Sep 2026 15:13 |
| Last Modified: | 11 Sep 2026 15:13 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/104501 |
| DOI: | 10.1039/D6NR01951J |
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