Radical-induced core destruction of monolayer-protected metal clusters

Chlorine radicals formed by the UV irradiation of solvents such as CCl4 rea ct with alkanethiolate-protected gold and silver clusters forming the corre sponding metal salts and variously halogenated disulfides. Reaction rates d epend on the chain length of the monolayer; whereas the reaction is over wi thin tens of seconds for clusters protected with shorter chain monolayers, those with longer chains need several minutes for complete conversion. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.