Functionalized resorcinarene as organic template for preparation of gold nanoparticles

A functionalized resorcinarene (1) containing four thiol groups on the upper rim and four long nonyl groups on the lower rim was synthesized. Compound 1 was used as organic template and pre-reducing agent for the preparation of small gold nanoparticles with different sizes. The morphology and size of the gold nanoparticles could be changed by altering the concentration of tetraarylthiol resorcinarene 1 or the amount of reducing agent sodium borohydride. Tetraarylthiol resorcinarene with long alkyl tailed-chains was determined to be efficient at stabilizing colloidal gold nanoparticles. The measurements of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectra confirmed the formation of gold nanoparticles. The gold nanoparticles were synthesized by reducing HAuCl4 with NaBH4 in the presence of tetraaylthiol resorcinarene.