Guiding the High-Yield Synthesis of NHC-Ligated Gold Nanoclusters by F NMR Spectroscopy.

Optimizing the synthesis of atomically precise metal nanoclusters by virtue of molecular tools is highly desirable but quite challenging. Herein we report how F NMR spectroscopy can be used to guide the high-yield synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-stabilized gold nanoclusters. In spite of little difference, F NMR signals of fluoro-incorporated NHCs (NHC) are highly sensitive to the tiny change in their surrounding chemical environments with different N-substituents, metals, or anions, thus providing a convenient strategy to discriminate species in reaction mixtures.