# Ligand-Free MgCO3 Nanoclusters Catalyze Nucleophilic Alcohol Addition Reactions

## TL;DR

Scientists created tiny MgCO3 clusters that act as efficient catalysts for alcohol addition reactions, outperforming traditional materials.

## Contribution

The synthesis and catalytic application of ligand-free MgCO3 nanoclusters for nucleophilic alcohol addition reactions is presented.

## Key findings

- Ultrasmall MgCO3 clusters were synthesized via CO2 capture with MgCl2.
- The clusters showed a 5-fold catalytic enhancement over bulk MgCO3 and CaCO3–triethylamine clusters.
- This work opens new possibilities for using alkaline metal carbonate clusters in organic synthesis.

## Abstract

Subnano and nanometric
metal clusters are ultrasmall
aggregates
in which most atoms are exposed on the surface, directly interacting
with reactants and enabling highly efficient catalysis. However, metal
carbonate clusters have been barely prepared and used in catalysis.
Here, we report the synthesis of ultrasmall, ligand-free MgCO3 clusters formed via CO2 capture with MgCl2, with an average composition of [MgCO3]5·3H2O. These clusters exhibit catalytic activity
in various nucleophilic alcohol addition reactions, showing a 5-fold
enhancement compared to bulk MgCO3 and CaCO3–triethylamine clusters. These results pave the way for synthesis
of ultrasmall alkaline metal carbonate clusters beyond Ca, which can
be employed as efficient catalysts in organic synthesis.