Thiolate-protected Gold Nanoclusters Au25(phenylethanethiol)18: An Efficient Catalyst for the Synthesis of Propargylamines from Aldehydes, Amines, and Alkynes

In this study, we report a thiolate-protected Au nanocluster, Au25(phenylethanethiol)18 [Au25(PET)18], which serves as an efficient catalyst by a three-component coupling reaction (A3 reaction) of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes to give the corresponding propargylamines in good to excellent yields.