Synthesis and Structure of Polyhydrido Copper Nanocluster [Cu₁₄H₁₀(PPh₃)₈(SPhMe_{2< /sub>)3]⁺: Symmetry-Breaking by Thiolate Ligands to form Racemic Pairs of Chiral Clusters in Solid-State}

A polyhydrido copper nanocluster, [Cu14H10(PPh3)(8)(SR)(3)](+) (HSR = 2,4-dimethylbenzenethiol), adopting a distorted fcc structure, is reported. One cube-vertex copper atom, coordinated by the three thiolate ligands and a PPh3, protrudes outwards from the fcc metal framework. The twisting of the three thiolate ligands about the threefold axis lowers the symmetry from O-h (Cu-14) to C-3, forming racemic pairs of intrinsic chiral clusters in crystalline solid-state. [GRAPHICS] .