Mol. dynamics simulations are performed to study the structural and dynamic properties of water mols. close to clean gold nanoclusters and four different Monolayer Protected Clusters (MPCs) comprising gold nanoclusters and alkanethiol surfactants with Me, carboxyl, amine and hydroxyl tail group. The effects of these tail groups on the local structure of water are quantified by the anal. of the reduced d. profiles, the av. no. of hydrogen bonds, and the water orientation distribution. Also, the dynamic properties of the water mols. are evaluated by diffusion coeffs. and residence time. The simulation results indicate that water mols. close to clean gold nanoclusters and nonpolar Me MPCs form a two-shelled structure in which the mols. in the 1st shell prefer lying on the surface of the nanocluster or Me MPCs. The existence of interfacial hydrogen bonds between the water mols. and the tail group of MPCs results in a weakening of the water-water hydrogen bond network. Also, the presence of the two water shells constrains the motion of the water mols. close to the clean nanocluster and nonpolar MPC. As a result, the residence time of the water mols. adjacent to the clean nanocluster and nonpolar MPC are significantly longer than those of the mols. close to the three polar MPCs.