Phosphinothiolates as Ligands for Polyhydrido Copper Nanoclusters

The reaction of [CuI(HSC₆H₄PPh₂)]₂ with NaBH₄ in CH₂Cl₂/EtOH led to air- and moisture-stable copper hydride nanoparticles (CuNPs) containing phosphinothiolates as new ligands, one of which was isolated by crystallization. The X-ray crystal structure of [Cu₁₈H₇L₁₀I] (L=⁻S(C₆H₄)PPh₂) shows unprecedented features in its 28-atom framework (18 Cu and 10 S atoms). Seven hydrogen atoms, in hydride form, are needed for charge balance and were located by density functional theory methods. H₂ was released from the copper hydride nanoparticles by thermolysis and visible light irradiation.