Analysis of the Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol Catalyzed by Para-Mercaptobenzoic Acid Capped Magic Number Gold Clusters

The magic number clusters Au₁₀₂(p-MBA)₄₄ and Au₁₄₄(p-MBA)₆₀ were synthesized and tested for their ability to catalyze the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. Kinetic and thermodynamic analyses demonstrate that both clusters are effective catalysts with activation energies less than 10 kJ/mol and turnover frequencies approaching 10³ h^–1 per surface gold atom.

Graphic Abstract