Synthesis of gold nanoparticles using electron-donating dithiafulvene units

Abstract

Dithiafulvene (DTF) derivative compounds were used as reducing agents to synthesize capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). DTF derivatives had shown good capability to reduce Au(III) to Au(0) without further addition of common reducing agents, and at the same time they were able to act as good capping agents. Because of their spectroscopic characteristics we were able to follow the AuNP formation by UV–Vis spectroscopy. Raman and NMR experiments were also performed in order to estimate the composition of the final capped AuNP species.