Probing Cooperative Effects in Bimetallic Clusters:  Indications of C−N Coupling of CH₄ and NH₃ Mediated by the Cluster Ion PtAu⁺ in the Gas Phase

The bimetallic cluster ion PtAu+ activates methane in the gas-phase, yielding the carbene PtAuCH2+ which further reacts with ammonia under C-N coupling. In contrast, neither Pt2+ nor Au2+ mediates C-N bond formation. This example demonstrates how bond activation in the gas phase can be tuned by cooperative effects in bimetallic clusters.