Luminescent silver nanoparticles stabilised by a crown ether capped with an organometallic cluster

Monolayer-protected clusters of silver have been synthesised by the NaBH4 reduction of a mixture of silver nitrate and the crown ether (6-mercaptohexyloxy)methyl-15-crown-5, or the triosmium cluster derivative Os3(μ-H)(CO)10[(6-mercaptohexyloxy)methyl-15-crown-5]. The nanoparticles showed good stability, are soluble in a wide range of organic solvents, and are luminescent.