A giant 90-nucleus silver cluster templated by hetero-anions.

A 90-nucleus silver cluster (SD/Ag38) cocapped by tBuC6H4S- and PhCOO- ligands was synthesized using hetero-anion template method. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) revealed a 90-nucleus metallic dumbbell-like core constructed by two large W5O19@Ag38 heads sandwiching one slender (SO4)2@Ag14 waist. Both W5O198- and SO42- templates were in situ generated and synergistically induced the formation of the largest known anion-templated silver cluster. Although SD/Ag38 is emission-silent at room temperature, increasingly brighter near-infrared (NIR) emission at ca. 742 nm was detected on cooling from 293 to 93 K.