Striking Confinement Effect: AuCl4- Binding to Amines in a Nanocage Cavity

Abstract

Binding of AuCl4- to amine groups tethered to the interior of a 2 nm siloxane nanocage was determined in solutions containing various concentrations of acid. The mode of binding was inferred from EXAFS and UV-vis spectra to be by ligand exchange of amine for chloride, which implies that the amines remain unprotonated. Cyclic voltammetry confirmed that the Au complexes bind to the nanocage interior and established a 1: 1 relationship between bound Au complex and amine groups. The results suggested a 5-7 pH unit shift in the protonation constant of the interior amines relative to free amines in solution.