Aryl sulfonate anion stabilized aromatic triangular cation [Pd]: syntheses, structures and properties.

A series of sulfonate anions paired aromatic triangular palladium clusters 3-7, abbreviated as [Pd][ArSO], were synthesized using a simple "one pot" method, and gave excellent isolated yields (90-95%). Their structures and properties have been fully characterized and further investigated by fluorescence, single crystal X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). In varying organic solvents, they presented apparently stronger absorption and emission in MeOH, driven by the combined interactions of hydrogen bonds and polarity.