Temperature-Mediated Template Release: Facile Growth of Copper(I) Mixed Ethynediide/Isopropylethynide Nanoclusters.

In the comproportionation reaction of Cu X and Cu with isopropylacetylene (iPr-C≡C-H), the ethynediide species C is generated via concomitant C-H/C-C bond cleavage of the iPr-C≡C-H precursor under moderate temperature to direct the formation of Cu mixed ethynediide/isopropylethynide nanoclusters (potentially explosive). The active ethynediide dianion C exhibits chameleon-like templating behavior to form C @Cu (m=6 (3, 4), 7 (2, 4), 8 (1)) central structural units for successive formation of {C ⊂Cu } (1, 2), {6 C ⊂Cu } (3), and {18 C ⊂Cu } (4) complexes. Bearing the highest C content, complex 4 features an unprecedented nanoscale Cu C kernel. Furthermore, 1-3 exhibit structure-controlled photoluminescence in the solid state.