Catalytic coupling reaction mechanism of 4-nitrobenzenethiol on silver clusters: a density functional theoretical study

The catalytic coupling reaction mechanism of the transformation from 4-nitrobenzenethiol (4-NBT) to 4,4′-dimercaptoazobenzene (4,4′-DMAB) on a silver cluster was studied by density functional theory. Reactants, intermediates, transition states and products were optimized with the B3LYP method using the 6-311 + G(d,p) basis set (Ag using the pseudo potential basis set of LanL2DZ). Transition states and intermediates were confirmed by the corresponding vibration analysis and intrinsic reaction coordinates (IRC). Consistent with literature reports, the key point of the transformation from 4-NBT absorbed on the surface of Ag 5 clusters to 4,4′-DMAB is the elimination of two O atoms on the amino group. Meanwhile, the catalytic coupling reaction of 4-nitrobenzenethiol on a silver cluster is easy to carry out under irradiation. The possibility of “inter system channeling” (ISC) between different potential energy surfaces in the coupling reaction of 4-NBT is further discussed. The irradiation has an auxiliary catalytic effect on the coupling reaction. Our research results can explain the observed experimental phenomena. Graphical abstract Catalytic coupling reaction mechanism of the transformation from 4-nitrothiophenol (4-NBT) to 4,4′-dimercaptoazobenzene (4,4′-DMAB) on silver clusters studied by density functional theory