Probing the Ligand Exchange of N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Capped AgS Nanocrystals with Amines and Carboxylic Acids.

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are versatile L-type ligands that have been shown to stabilize coinage metal chalcogenide nanocrystals, such as AgS, remarkably well. However, very little research has been done on the interaction between NHC ligands and coinage metal chalcogenide nanocrystal surfaces and subsequent ligand exchange reactions. Herein, solution H nuclear magnetic resonance methods were used to monitor ligand exchange reactions on stoichiometric AgS nanocrystal platforms with various primary amine and carboxylic acid ligands.