Early View e202511580
Research Article

An Atomically Precise Copper Cluster Nanoreactor for Efficient Catalysis in Chemical Fixation of Low-Concentration CO2

Wan-Zhen Qiao

Wan-Zhen Qiao

Henan Key Laboratory of Crystalline Molecular Functional Materials, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001 China

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Bing-Jie Xue

Bing-Jie Xue

Henan Key Laboratory of Crystalline Molecular Functional Materials, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001 China

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Rui Wang

Rui Wang

Henan Key Laboratory of Crystalline Molecular Functional Materials, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001 China

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Yuan Yang

Corresponding Author

Yuan Yang

Henan Key Laboratory of Crystalline Molecular Functional Materials, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

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Prof. Shuang-Quan Zang

Corresponding Author

Prof. Shuang-Quan Zang

Henan Key Laboratory of Crystalline Molecular Functional Materials, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

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First published: 30 June 2025

Graphical Abstract

An atomically precise I@Cu8 cluster with high thermal/chemical stability represents the first example of a cluster-based nanoreactor that demonstrates excellent catalytic activity in chemical fixation of both propargylic amines and propargylic alcohols with CO2 at simulated flue gas concentrations due to the unique substrate enrichment of well-defined nanocavities.

Abstract

Chemical fixation of CO2 with propargylic amines/alcohols into high value-added fine chemicals represents promising and practical routes for CO2 resource utilization, but it remains a great challenge to achieve low-concentration CO2 conversion in both reactions through one single catalytic system. Herein, a robust copper cluster [(C6H15NH)(Cu8L8I)] (I@Cu8) with nanosized cavities has been constructed. Importantly, the I@Cu8 cluster as a nanoreactor can efficiently catalyze the chemical conversion of both propargylic amines and propargylic alcohols with CO2 at simulated flue gas concentrations, due to the unique substrate enrichment effect of its well-defined nanocavities. Catalytic mechanism investigation and DFT calculations illustrate that the excellent catalytic performance originates from the simultaneous activation of alkynyl (─C≡CH) bonds and amino/hydroxyl (─NHR/─OH) groups in the I@Cu8 catalytic system, in which the I@Cu8-substrate intermediates have been confirmed through ESI-MS analysis. Impressively, this is the first example of a cluster-based nanoreactor catalyst for low-concentration CO2 cyclization reactions with both propargylic amines and propargylic alcohols. This work provides a foundation for the construction of metal cluster-based catalysts for CO2 conversion into valuable chemicals.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available in the Supporting Information of this article.

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