Tetraplatinum cluster complexes bearing hydrophilic anchors as precursors for γ-Al2O3-supported platinum nanoparticles.

Tetraplatinum cluster complexes bearing hydrophilic anchors, [Pt4(μ-OCOCH3)4(μ-OCOC6H4OH-4)4] (2a), [Pt4(μ-OCOCH3)4(μ-OCOC6H4B(OH)2-4)4] (2b), and [Pt4(μ-OCOCH3)4(μ-OCOC6H4NH2-4)4] (2c), were successfully prepared by a selective substitution reaction of four in-plane acetates of [Pt4(μ-OCOCH3)8] (1) with the corresponding p-substituted benzoic acids. Solid-state structure determination of 2a revealed the 3D network structure through intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the hydroxy group of the p-hydroxybenzoate ligand and the oxygen atom of the carboxylate ligand of 2a. UV-vis analysis of 2a–c in CH3CN or CH3CN–H2O in the presence of γ-Al2O3 clearly indicated the adsorption efficiency of these platinum clusters on γ-Al2O3: 2a bearing a hydroxyl group and 2b bearing a B(OH)2 group were effectively deposited onto γ-Al2O3 from CH3CN solution, whereas less than 40% of 1 and 2c were chemically adsorbed onto γ-Al2O3. Highly dispersed and very small platinum nanoparticles (less than 1 nm) on γ-Al2O3 were obtained by thermal treatment of Pt4-deposited γ-Al2O3 at 500 °C.