Isolation and structural characterization of a silver-platinum nanocluster, Ag4Pt2(DMSA)4.

We report the synthesis, isolation, and characterization of the ligand-protected bimetallic cluster, Ag4Pt2(DMSA)4 (DMSA = meso-2,3,-dimercaptosuccinic acid). The procedure is similar to the one employed for the synthesis of Ag4Ni2(DMSA)4. Theoretical studies suggest that the Pt and Ni atoms have square planar configurations. Because the crystal field splitting of 5d orbitals is typically larger than that for 3d orbitals, the Pt-based cluster has an optical spectrum that is significantly blue-shifted as compared to the Ni-based cluster.