Electron-Rich Gold Clusters Stabilized by Poly(vinylpyridines) as Robust and Active Oxidation Catalysts.

In this report, we introduced poly(-vinylpyridine) (PVP, = 2, 4) as an electron-donating stabilizer for small (<2 nm) Au clusters and elucidated how coordinating pyridines affect the physical, optical, chemical, and catalytic properties of Au clusters. Spectroscopic measurements and theoretical calculation suggested the high electron-donating ability of PVP. PVP-stabilized Au clusters improved robustness in aerobic oxidation of alcohols compared to poly(-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-stabilized ones, while retaining catalytic activities.