Visible-Light-Induced Photoredox Catalysis with a Tetracerium-Containing Silicotungstate

Visible-Light-Driven Oxidation of Amines to Imines in Air Catalyzed by Polyoxometalate-Tris(bipyridine)ruthenium Hybrid Compounds

The development of visible-light photocatalysts for the selective oxidative coupling of amines to imines is an area of great interest. Herein, four hybrid compounds based on polyoxometalate anions and tris(bipyridine)ruthenium cations, Ru(bpy)₃[M₆O₁₉] (M = Mo, W) 1-2, [Ru(bpy)₃]₂[Mo₈O₂₆] 3, [Ru(bpy)₃]₂[W₁₀O₃₂] 4, are prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction (single-crystal and powder), elemental analysis, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and solid diffuse reflective spectroscopy. Single-crystal structural analysis indicates that polyoxometalate anions and tris(bipyridine)ruthenium cations interact with each other through extensive hydrogen bonds in these compounds. These hybrid species with strong visible-light-harvesting abilities and suitable photocatalytic energy potentials show excellent photocatalytic activity and selectivity for the oxidation of amines to imines at room temperature in air as an oxidant. Among them, compound 1 with the [Mo₆O₁₉]^2- anion has the highest catalytic activity, which can swiftly convert >99.0% of benzylamine into N-benzylidenebenzylamine with a selectivity of 98.0% in 25 min illumination by a 10 W 445 nm light-emitting diode (LED). Its turnover frequency reaches 392 h^-1, which is not only better than the homogeneous catalyst [Ru(bpy)₃]Cl₂ but also much superior to those achieved over most of reported heterogeneous catalysts. Moreover, it shows a wide generality for various aromatic amines, accompanied by the advantages of good recyclability and stability. The photocatalytic oxidation mechanism of amines to the corresponding imines over polyoxometalate-based hybrid compounds was fully investigated.

Nanostructured Manganese Oxides within a Ring-Shaped Polyoxometalate Exhibiting Unusual Oxidation Catalysis

Nanosized manganese oxides have recently received considerable attention for their synthesis, structures, and potential applications. Although various synthetic methods have been developed, precise synthesis of novel nanostructured manganese oxides are still challenging. In this study, using a structurally defined nanosized cavity inside a ring-shaped polyoxometalate, we succeeded in synthesizing two types of discrete 18 and 20 nuclear nanostructured manganese oxides, Mn18 and Mn20, respectively. In particular, Mn18 showed much higher catalytic activity than other manganese oxides for the oxygenation of alkylarenes including electron-deficient ones, and the reaction proceeded through a unique reaction mechanism due to its unusual manganese oxide structure.

A Molecular Hybrid of an Atomically Precise Silver Nanocluster and Polyoxometalates for H2 Cleavage into Protons and Electrons

Atomically precise silver (Ag) nanoclusters are promising materials as catalysts, photocatalysts, and sensors because of their unique structures and mixed-valence states (Ag⁺ /Ag⁰ ). However, their low stability hinders the in-depth study of their intrinsic reactivity and catalytic property accompanying their redox processes. Herein, we demonstrate that a molecular hybrid of an atomically precise {Ag₂₇ }¹⁷⁺ nanocluster and polyoxometalates (POMs) can efficiently cleave H₂ into protons and electrons. The Ag nanocluster accommodates electrons through the redox reaction from {Ag₂₇ }¹⁷⁺ to {Ag₂₇ }¹³⁺ , and the POM ligands play the following important roles: (i) a significant stabilization of the typically unstable Ag nanocluster to preserve its structure during the redox reaction with H₂ , (ii) formation of a unique interface between the Ag nanocluster and metal oxides for efficient H₂ cleavage, and (iii) storage of the generated protons on the negatively charged basic surface.

Molecular Vanadium Oxides for Energy Conversion and Energy Storage: Current Trends and Emerging Opportunities

Molecular vanadium oxides, or polyoxovanadates (POVs), have recently emerged as a new class of molecular energy conversion/storage materials, which combine diverse, chemically tunable redox behavior and reversible multielectron storage capabilities. This Review explores current challenges, major breakthroughs, and future opportunities in the use of POVs for energy conversion and storage. The reactivity, advantages, and limitations of POVs are explored, with a focus on their use in lithium and post-lithium-ion batteries, redox-flow batteries, and light-driven energy conversion. Finally, emerging themes and new research directions are critically assessed to provide inspiration for how this promising materials class can advance research in sustainable energy technologies.

Polyoxometalates covalently combined with graphitic carbon nitride for photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production

The polyoxometalate (POM) cluster [SiW₁₁O₃₉]⁸⁻ (SiW₁₁) with photoreductive ability has been successfully covalently combined with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) through the organic linker strategy.

Organo-Photoredox Catalyzed Oxidative Dehydrogenation of N-Heterocycles

We report here for the first time the catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles by a visible-light organo-photoredox catalyst with low catalyst loading (0.1-1 mol %). The reaction proceeds efficiently under base- and additive-free conditions with ambient air at room temperature. The utility of this benign approach is demonstrated by the synthesis of various pharmaceutically relevant N-heteroarenes such as quinoline, quinoxaline, quinazoline, acridine, and indole.

Charge retention of soft-landed phosphotungstate Keggin anions on self-assembled monolayers

Preferential immobilization of the 2− charge state observed for polyoxotungstate Keggin anions soft-landed onto self-assembled monolayer surfaces.

Ln12 -Containing 60-Tungstogermanates: Synthesis, Structure, Luminescence, and Magnetic Studies

A new class of hexameric Ln12 -containing 60-tungstogermanates, [Na(H2 O)6 ⊂Eu12 (OH)12 (H2 O)18 Ge2 (GeW10 O38 )6 ](39-) (Eu12 ), [Na(H2 O)6 ⊂Gd12 (OH)6 (H2 O)24 Ge(GeW10 O38 )6 ](37-) (Gd12 ), and [(H2 O)6 ⊂Dy12 (H2 O)24 (GeW10 O38 )6 ](36-) (Dy12 ), comprising six di-Ln-embedded {β(4,11)-GeW10 } subunits was prepared by reaction of [α-GeW9 O34 ](10-) with Ln(III) ions in weakly acidic (pH 5) aqueous medium. Depending on the size of the Ln(III) ion, the assemblies feature selective capture of two (for Eu12 ), one (for Gd12 ), or zero (for Dy12 ) extra Ge(IV) ions. The selective encapsulation of a cationic sodium hexaaqua complex [Na(H2 O)6 ](+) was observed for Eu12 and Gd12 , whereas Dy12 incorporates a neutral, distorted-octahedral (H2 O)6 cluster. The three compounds were characterized by single-crystal XRD, ESI-MS, photoluminescence, and magnetic studies. Dy12 was shown to be a single-molecule magnet.

Visible-light-responsive multielectron redox catalysis of lacunary polyoxometalates induced by substrate coordination to their lacuna

We describe herein the efficient visible-light-responsive polyoxometalate-based multielectron photoredox catalysis induced by in situ coordination of alcohols to the lacuna of TBA4 H4 [γ-SiW10 O36 ] (I, TBA=tetra-n-butylammonium). The coordination of alcohols to the lacuna of I generated a new highest occupied molecular orbital as the electron donor level and enabled the visible-light-responsive multielectron transfer from alcohols to I, which could be utilized for aerobic alcohol oxidation and one-pot synthesis of N-arylimines starting from nitroarenes and primary alcohols.