Time-Resolved Assembly of Cluster-in-Cluster {Ag12}-in-{W76} Polyoxometalates under Supramolecular Control

A Lanthanide-Incorporated Phospho(III)tungstate Aggregate Constructed from [HPIIIW8O31]10- and [W11O39]12- Building Blocks and Its Nanocomposite with CdS for Ultrasensitive Photoelectrochemical Detection of Oxytetracycline

A novel tartronic acid decorated hexa-CeIII-incorporated phospho(III)tungstate aggregate (C4H12NO)6Na18H2[(HPW8O31)2[W11O39]2(H2TAD)4(H2O)4W4Ce6H2P2O14]·84H2O (1, H3TAD = tartronic acid) was synthesized by a one-step assembly strategy. Its main skeleton is constructed from two [W11O39]12- fragments, two [HPIIIW8O31]10- segments and one H2TAD--ornamented dodecanuclear heterometallic [W4Ce6H2PIII2O14(H2TAD)4(H2O)4]18+ cluster. In the structure, the [HPIIIO3]2- groups not only work as the heteroatom template to induce the formation of lacunary [HPIIIW8O31]10- segments but also function as the connector to bridge Ce3+ cations. With the help of a reaction strategy of combining ultrasonication treatment with the continuous ion layer adsorption method, the 1/CdS composite was constructed and exhibits prominent photoelectrochemical activity. The 1/CdS composite was used as a photoelectrochemical sensor for oxytetracycline detection at 0 V (vs Ag/AgCl), which displays excellent properties with quick response and low limit of detection (0.042 nM). This work can provide some helpful references in the construction of novel PIII-induced polyoxometalates consisting of different building blocks and can extend the applications of polyoxometalate-based nanocomposites into photoelectrochemical detection for antibiotics as well as biomolecules.

Development of Stable Water-Soluble Supratomic Silver Clusters Utilizing A Polyoxoniobate-Protected Strategy: Giant Core-Shell-Type Ag8@Nb162 Fluorescent Nanocluster

Atomically precise low-nuclearity (n<10) silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) have garnered significant interest due to their size-dependent optical properties and diverse applications. However, their synthesis has remained challenging, primarily due to their inherent instability. The present study introduces a new feasible approach for clustering silver ions utilizing highly negative and redox-inert polyoxoniobates (PONbs) as all-inorganic ligands. This strategy not only enables the creation of novel Ag-PONb composite nanoclusters but also facilitates the synthesis of stable low-nuclearity AgNCs. Using this method, we have successfully synthesized a small octanuclear rhombic [Ag8]6+ AgNC stabilized by six highly negative [LiNb27O75]14- polyoxoanions. This marks the first PONb-protected superatomic AgNC, designated as {Ag8@(LiNb27O75)6} (Ag8@Nb162), with an aesthetically spherical core-shell structure. The crystalline Ag8@Nb162 is stable under ambient conditions, What's more, it is water-soluble and able to maintain its molecular cluster structure intact in water. Further, the stable small [Ag8]6+ AgNC has interesting temperature- and pH-dependent reversible fluorescence response, based on which a multiple optical encryption mode for anti-counterfeit technology was demonstrated. This work offers a promising avenue for the synthesis of fascinating and stable PONb-protected AgNCs and sheds light on the development of new-type optical functional materials.

An Innovative SbIII-WVI-Cotemplated Antimonotungstate with Potential in Sensing Paroxetine Electrochemically

Advances in polyoxometalate (POM) self-assembly chemistry are always accompanied by new developments in molecular blocks. The exploration and discovery of uncommon building blocks offer great possibilities for generating unprecedented POM clusters. An intriguing SbIII-WVI-cotemplated antimonotungstate [H2N(CH3)2]11Na[SbW9O33]Er2(H2O)2Sb2[SbWVIW15O57]·22H2O (1) was synthesized, which comprises a classical trivacant Keggin [SbW9O33]9- ({SbW9}) fragment and an unclassical lacunary Dawson-like [SbWVIW15O57]15- ({SbWVIW15}) subunit. Notably, the Dawson-like {SbWVIW15} subunit is the first example of a [SbO3]3- and [WVIO6]6- mixed-heteroatom-directing POM segment. Hexacoordinated [WVIO6]6- can not only serve as the heteroatom function but its additional oxygen sites can also link to lanthanide, main-group metal, and transition-metal centers to form the innovative structure. {SbWVIW15} and {SbW9} subunits are joined by the heterometallic [Er2(H2O)2Sb2O17]22- cluster to give rise to an asymmetric sandwich-type architecture. To further realize its potential application in electrochemical sensing, a conductive 1@rGO composite was obtained by the electrochemical deposition of 1 with graphene oxide (GO). Using a 1@rGO-modified glassy carbon electrode as the working electrode, an electrochemical biosensor for detecting the antidepressant drug paroxetine (PRX) was successfully constructed. This work can provide a viable strategy for synthesizing mixed-heteroatom-directing POMs and demonstrates the application of POM-based materials for the electrochemical detection of drug molecules.

Single-Molecule Magnet Behavior of Confined Dy(III) in a Mixed Heteroatom-Substituted Polyoxotungstate

Two heteroatom-templated Dy(III)-confined polyoxotungstates [H2N(CH3)2]7Na7[Dy2(H2O)7(W4O9)(HPSeW15O54)(α-SeW9O33)2]·31H2O (1) and [H2N(CH3)2]14K2Na18{[Dy2(H2O)13W14O40]2[α-SeW9O33]4[HPSeW15O54]2}·44H2O (2) were synthesized by a one-pot aqueous reaction and structurally characterized. The most distinctive structural feature of complexes 1 & 2 is the simultaneous presence of both trivacant Keggin [α-SeW9O33]8- and Dawson [HPSeW15O54]10- building blocks containing P(III)-Se(IV) heteroatoms. The trimeric polyanion of 1 can be represented as a fusion of two trivacant Keggin [α-SeW9O33]8- and Dawson [HPSeW15O54]10- building units encapsulating the [Dy2(H2O)7(W4O9)]12+ cluster. On the other hand, hexameric polyoxoanions of 2 are described as four trivacant Keggin [α-SeW9O33]8- and two Dawson [HPSeW15O54]10-, building units anchoring a [Dy4(H2O)26W28O80]20+ cluster. The magnetic investigation revealed the presence of significant magnetic anisotropy and slow relaxation of magnetization behavior for complex 1 with a phenomenological energy barrier, Ueff = 13.58 K in the absence of an external magnetic field, and Ueff = 24.57 K in the presence of a 500 Oe external dc magnetic field. On the other hand, complex 2 favors the QTM relaxation process in the absence of an external magnetic field and shows field-induced slow relaxation of magnetization with Ueff = 11.11 K at 1500 Oe applied dc field. The in-depth analysis of magnetic relaxation dynamics shows that the relaxation process follows the Orbach as well as Raman relaxation pathways. Further, the ab initio calculation of the studied complexes confirms that the highly axial ground and first excited energy states (containing pure highest mJ states) are responsible for the observed single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior. Remarkably, this is the first example of a mixed heteroatom-based Dy(III)-substituted polyoxotungstate with both trimeric Keggin [α-SeW9O33]8- and Dawson [HPSeW15O54]10- building units showing SMM behavior.

Two Types of Subgroup-Valence Heteroatoms (PIII, TeIV) Synergistically Controlling Octa-CeIII-Encapsulated Heteropolyoxotungstate and Its Electrochemical Recognition Properties

Rapid development of the synthetic chemistry of polyoxometalates (POMs) has greatly driven the generation of structurally variable innovative POM-based materials. Herein, we synthesized a novel P^III and Te^IV synergistically controlling octa-Ce^III-encapsulated heteropolyoxotungstate [H₂N(CH₃)₂]₁₁K₂Na₆H₁₁[Ce₈(CH₃COO)₂(HP^IIIO₃)₂W₈O₂₀(H₂O)₁₂(B-β-TeW₈O₃₀)₂(B-α-TeW₈O₃₁)₄]·64H₂O (1). Its distinctive anion skeleton [Ce₈(CH₃COO)₂(HP^IIIO₃)₂W₈O₂₀(H₂O)₁₂(B-β-TeW₈O₃₀)₂(B-α-TeW₈O₃₁)₄]^30- is built by two tetra-vacancy [B-β-TeW₈O₃₀]^8- and four tetra-vacancy [B-α-TeW₈O₃₁]^10- moieties linked through an inorganic-organic hybrid [Ce₈(CH₃COO)₂(HP^IIIO₃)₂W₈O₂₀(H₂O)₁₂]²⁶⁺ {Ce₈P₂W₈} cluster core. Interestingly, {Ce₈P₂W₈} is assembled from four [W₂O₁₁]^10- groups and two [HP^IIIO₃]^2- anions and eight Ce³⁺ ions. Besides, 1 was further composited with carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotube (CMCN), resulting in a bi-component 1/CMCN nanocomposite. An electrochemical recognition platform (named as 1/CMCN/GCE) was built by modifying 1/CMCN on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for electrochemical detection of dopamine (DPA) at physiological pH (pH = 7.0). The findings have shown that 1/CMCN/GCE exhibits a good detection limit of 4.95 nM for DPA. This work provides considerable inspiration to promote innovative and rational structure designs of POM-based materials and expand their applications to electrochemical and biological detection fields.

Two Heterometallic Nanoclusters [DyIII4NiII8] and [DyIII10MnIII4MnII2]: Structure, Assembly Mechanism, and Magnetic Properties

A full understanding of the assembly mechanisms of coordination complexes is of great importance for a directional synthesis under control. We thus explored here the formation mechanisms of the two new heterometallic nanoclusters [Dy^III₄Ni^II₈(μ₃-OH)₈(L)₈(OAc)₄(H₂O)₄]·3.25EtOH·4CH₃CN (1) and [Dy^III₁₀Mn^III₄Mn^II₂O₄(OH)₁₂(OAc)₁₆(L)₄(HL)₂(EtOH)₂]·2EtOH·2CH₃CN·2H₂O (2) with different cubane-based squarelike ring structures, which were obtained from the reactions of 4-bromo-2-[(2-hydroxypropylimino)methyl]phenol (H₂L) with Dy(NO)₃·6H₂O and the transition metal salt Ni(OAc)₂·4H₂O or Mn(OAc)₂·4H₂O. The high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESI-MS) tests showed that the skeletons of clusters 1 and 2 have a high stability under the measurement conditions for HRESI-MS. The intermediates formed in the reaction courses of clusters 1 and 2 were tracked using time-dependent HRESI-MS, which helped to determine the proposed hierarchical assembly mechanisms for 1 (H₂L → NiL → Ni₂L₂ → Ni₃L₄ → Ni₄L₄ → DyNi₄L₅ → Dy₂Ni₆L₆ → Dy₃Ni₆L₆ → Dy₃Ni₇L₇ → Dy₄Ni₈L₈) and 2 (H₂L → MnL → DyMnL → DyMn₂L → Dy₂Mn₂L_x → Dy₈Mn₂L₂ → Dy₁₀Mn₂L₂ → Dy₁₀Mn₆L_x and H₂L → DyL → Dy₄L₂ → Dy₆L₂ → Dy₈Mn₂L₂ → Dy₁₀Mn₂L₂ → Dy₁₀Mn₆L_x). This is one of the rare examples of investigating the assembly mechanisms of 3d-4f heterometallic clusters. Magnetic studies indicated that the title complexes both show slow magnetic relaxation behaviors and cluster 1 is a field-induced single-molecule magnet.

Double Trigonal Pyramidal {SeO3} Groups Bridged 2-Picolinic Acid Modified Cerium-Inlaid Polyoxometalate Including Mixed Selenotungstate Subunits for Electrochemically Sensing Ochratoxin A

An organic-inorganic hybrid trigonal pyramidal {SeO3} group, bridged cerium-inlaid polyoxometalate (POM) Na16[Se2Ce4(H2O)8W4(HPIC)4O10][B-β-SeW8O30]2[Se2W12O46]2·60H2O (1) (HPIC = 2-picolinic acid), containing two disparate selenotungstate (ST) building blocks was synthesized by a one-step assembly strategy, which is established by two asymmetric sandwich-type {[Ce2(H2O)4W2(HPIC)2O4][B-β-SeW8O30][Se2W12O46]}10- moieties joined by double trigonal pyramidal {SeO3} groups. Its outstanding structural trait is that it contains two types of ST building blocks, Keggin-type [B-β-SeW8O30]8- and Dawson-like [Se2W12O46]12-, which are extremely rare in ST chemistry. Remarkably, [Se2W12O46]12- is first obtained in lanthanide-inlaid STs. Furthermore, 1@PPy conductive film (PPy = polypyrrole) was prepared by electrochemical polymerization and served as the electrode material, and then nano-gold particles (NGPs) were deposited on the surface of 1@PPy conductive film by an electrochemical deposition method in order to immobilize the aptamer of ochratoxin A. With the help of exonuclease I (EN I), the oxidation peak of the metalized Ag works as the detection signal to achieve the detection of ochratoxin A (OTXA). This study offers an available approach for creating organic-inorganic hybrid heteroatom-bridged lanthanide-inlaid POMs and reveals the likelihood of extending heteroatom-bridged lanthanide-inlaid POMs into electrochemical biosensing applications.

From polygons to polyhedra through intermediate structures. A shape measures study of six-atom inorganic rings and clusters

Among the wealth of well-established molecular structures, inorganic rings and clusters present an overwhelming variety of geometries that chemists try to describe with a limited assortment of regular polygons and polyhedra. In the case of six-atom structures we usually employ the hexagon, the pentagonal pyramid, the trigonal prism and the octahedron. More often than not, however, real world structures deviate from those ideal geometries, and we try to cope with non-ideality by adding adjectives such as distorted, twisted, puckered or flattened, additionally nuanced by adverbs such as slightly, significantly or severely. This contribution presents a systematic structural perspective of six-atom groups in molecules by means of a continuous shape measures (CShM) analysis. The shape of a group of N points is defined by all the sets of 3 N Cartesian coordinates that can be generated by rigid translation, rotation, or isotropic scale change. Among all possible arrangements of N points in space, we select as reference shapes the corresponding regular N-vertex polygons and polyhedra, together with univocally defined combinations thereof (e.g., two coplanar or perpendicular edge-sharing squares). The present CShM study allows us to classify most of the structures not only by their closeness to a particular regular shape, but also by quantifying their position along minimal distortion interconversion pathways between two regular shapes.

Organoamine-Directed Assembly of 5p-4f Heterometallic Cluster Substituted Polyoxometalates: Luminescence and Proton Conduction Properties

The assembly of heterometallic cluster substituted polyoxometalates (POMs) remains a great challenge for inorganic synthetic chemistry up to now. Herein, a series of 5p-4f heterometallic cluster substituted POMs were successfully isolated by a facile one-step hydrothermal reaction method, namely H₁₇(H₂en)₃[Sb^III₉Sb^VLn₃O₁₄(H₂O)₃][(SbW₉O₃₃)₃(PW₉O₃₄)]·28H₂O(1-Ln, Ln = Ce, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy) (en = ethylenediamine). Interestingly, by replacing en with imidazole, another series of 5p-4f heterometallic cluster substituted POMs H₁₃(HIm)₄K₂Na₄(H₂O)₉[Sb^III₉Sb^VLn₃O₁₄(H₂O)₃][(SbW₉O₃₃)₃(PW₉O₃₄)]·26H₂O (2-Ln, Ln = Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Im = imidazole) were obtained. Structural analyses indicate that both 1-Ln and 2-Ln are made up of an unprecedented 5p-4f heterometallic {Sb₁₀Ln₃O₁₄(H₂O)₃} cluster stabilized simultaneously by mixed trilacunary heteropolyanions including {A-α-PW₉O₃₄} and {B-α-SbW₉O₃₃}. Impedance measurements indicate that both compounds exhibit different proton conduction properties, and the conductivity of 2 can reach up to 1.64 × 10^-2 S cm^-1 at 85 °C under 98% relative humidity. Moreover, the fluorescence emission behaviors of both compounds have been studied.

An unprecedented polyhydroxycarboxylic acid ligand bridged multi-EuIII incorporated tellurotungstate and its luminescence properties

The first polyhydroxycarboxylic acid ligand bridged multi-EuIII-incorporated tellurotungstate K14H10[Eu4(H2O)4W6(H2glu)4O12(B-α-TeW9O33)4]·60H2O (H6glu = d-gluconic acid) (1) was synthesized via an organic ligand-driven self-assembly strategy. The polyhydroxycarboxylic acid ligand bridged tetrameric polyoxoanion [Eu4(H2O)4W6(H2glu)4O12(B-α-TeW9O33)4]24- in 1 can be viewed as an aggregation of four trivacant Keggin [B-α-TeW9O33]8- fragments and an innovative heterometallic [Eu4(H2O)4W6(H2glu)4O12]8+ cluster, in which four high-coordinate polyhydroxy flexible H2glu4- ligands chelate W and Eu centers through carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, giving rise to a heterometallic cluster. The hexagonal packing of the tetrameric polyoxoanions in 1 along the c axis provides excellent porous channels, which greatly increases the specific surface area of the whole framework and may be of benefit for fluorescence sensing in aqueous solution. 1 can function as a "turn-off" luminescence sensor to detect Cu2+ ions in aqueous solution. The limit of detection (LOD) of the 1-sensor is 8.82 × 10-6 mM, which is the lowest among the reported polyoxometalate-based fluorescence sensors. As for the Cu2+-quenching system, it can function as an "off-on" sensor to detect cysteine in an aqueous system, affording a LOD of 1.75 × 10-4 mM. This work opens up an avenue to broaden the applications of polyoxometalate-based materials in the optical intelligence detection field.

Multi-praseodymium-and-tungsten bridging octameric tellurotungstate and its 2D honeycomb composite film for detecting estrogen

Under coordination driving force of tungsten and rare-earth (RE) bridges, we synthesized a novel giant multi-tungsten-and-RE-bridging octameric tellurotungstate (TT) [H₂N(CH₃)₂]₁₆K₈Na₆H₁₀[Pr₈(H₂O)₂₀W₁₆O₄₈][B-α-TeW₉O₃₃]₈·70H₂O (1) in CH₃CN-H₂O mixed solvent. The cluster anion {[Pr₈(H₂O)₂₀W₁₆O₄₈][B-α-TeW₉O₃₃]₈}^40- features sixteen W^VI bridges, eight Pr^III bridges and eight trivacant Keggin [B-α-TeW₉O₃₃]^8- fragments, which the square {W₄O₁₂} cluster can be imagined as a seed to induce the aggregation of eight [B-α-TeW₉O₃₃]^8- fragments by coordination driving force of additional twelve W^VI bridges and eight Pr^III ions. Furthermore, the 2D 1@DODA (dimethyldioctadecyl ammonium bromide = DODA·Br) honeycomb composite material was prepared. The honeycomb morphology of the 1@DODA composite material provides rich binding sites for electrodepositing Au nanoparticles to make Au/1@DODA electrodes. The aptamer of 17β-estradiol (E2) hormone can be grafted to the Au/1@DODA electrodes via Au-S bonding interaction to construct the Au/1@DODA aptamer biosensors. By virtue of the specific recognition interaction of aptamer and the electrochemical signal amplification function of methylene blue and cDNA, the Au/1@DODA aptamer biosensors can realize the electrochemical detection of E2. This finding not only offers an electrochemical biosensing platform for detecting E2, but also expands POM-based composite materials in the applications of clinical detection and biological analysis.

Self-Assembly of Ag+/[PW11NbO40]4- Complexes in Nonaqueous Solutions

Self-assembly between Ag⁺ and [PW₁₁NbO₄₀]^4- in N- and O-donor solvents (nitriles and amides) has been studied. In the case of dimethylformamide (DMF), formation of a yellow [Ag₄(DMF)₁₂][PW₁₁NbO₄₀] (1a) metastable phase and a colorless [Ag₄(DMF)₁₀][PW₁₁NbO₄₀] (1) stable phase was observed. In acetonitrile (CH₃CN), the product was [Ag(CH₃CN)₄]₂{[Ag(CH₃CN)₃]₂[PW₁₁NbO₄₀]} (2a). By contrast, [SiW₁₂O₄₀]^4- of the same size and charge as [PW₁₁NbO₄₀]^4- produces [Ag(CH₃CN)₃]₄[SiW₁₂O₄₀] (3a). Partial desolvation of 2a and 3a leads to Ag₄[PW₁₁NbO₄₀]·7.5CH₃CN (2) and Ag₄[SiW₁₂O₄₀]·7.5CH₃CN (3), respectively. The CH₃CN molecules in the structure of 2 are labile, and this compound was used as the starting material to study solvent-exchange processes in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethylacetamide (DMA), diethylformamide (DEF), and benzonitrile (PhCN) solutions. These solvent reactions yield [Ag(DMA)₄][Ag₃(DMA)₆][PW₁₁NbO₄₀] (4), [Ag₂(NMP)₄(CH₃CN)]₂[PW₁₁NbO₄₀]·1.3NMP (5a), [Ag₂(NMP)₅]₂[PW₁₁NbO₄₀] (5b), Ag₄[PW₁₁NbO₄₀]·9.5DEF (6), and [Ag(PhCN)₄]₂[{Ag(PhCN)₃}₂PW₁₁NbO₄₀] (7). All products were isolated and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (except for 2 and 3), IR, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis techniques. The O-donor solvents favor polynuclear, solvent-bridged cationic aggregates. In the case of DMF, DMA, and DEF discrete, tri- and tetranuclear polycations are observed, while in the case of NMP, the formation of infinite polycationic structures takes place. By contrast, the N-donor solvents (CH₃CN and PhCN) favor mononuclear cations, which can exist either as distorted tetrahedral, isolated [Ag(Solv)₄]⁺ cations or as pseudotriangular {Ag(Solv)₃}⁺ units, additionally coordinated to a polyoxometalate. Screening of the luminescent properties for solid samples of 1-7 revealed that only 5a/5b and 7 are emissive. In particular, the sample containing 5a and 5b demonstrates long-lived phosphorescence with a 30 ms lifetime.

A new [Co21(H2O)4(OH)12]30+ unit-incorporating polyoxotungstate for sensitive detection of dichlorvos

A new [Co₂₁(H₂O)₄(OH)₁₂]³⁰⁺ unit-incorporating polyoxotungstate (denoted as Co25Si6W60) has been hydrothermally synthesized and fully characterized. The unique Co25Si6W60-based biosensing system offers an environmentally-friendly route for detecting dichlorvos.

Controlling the Reactivity of the [P8 W48 O184 ]40- Inorganic Ring and Its Assembly into POMZite Inorganic Frameworks with Silver Ions

The construction of pure-inorganic framework materials with well-defined design rules and building blocks is challenging. In this work, we show how a polyoxometalate cluster with an integrated pore, based on [P8 W48 O184 ]40- (abbreviated as {P8 W48 }), can be self-assembled into inorganic frameworks using silver ions, which both enable reactions on the cluster as well as link them together. The {P8 W48 } was found to be highly reactive with silver ions resulting in the in situ generation of fragments, forming {P9 W63 O235 } and {P10 W66 O251 } in compound (1) where these two clusters co-crystallize and are connected into a POMZite framework with 11 Ag+ ions as linkers located inside clusters and 10 Ag+ linking ions situated between clusters. Decreasing both the concentration of Ag+ ions, and the reaction temperature compared to the synthesis of compound (1), leads to {P8 W51 O196 } in compound 2 where the {P8 W48 } clusters are linked to form a new POMZite framework with 9 Ag+ ions per formula unit. Further tuning of the reaction conditions yields a cubic porous network compound (3) where {P8 W48 } clusters as cubic sides are joined by 4 Ag+ ions to give a cubic array and no Ag+ ions were found inside the clusters.

Blurring the line between addenda and heteroatoms in a giant polyoxotungstotellurite

The 3.5 nm-sized polyanion [H₄TeWO₃₇₂]^80-, exhibiting an exceptionally high Te : W ratio, expands the structural role of Te^IV ions from classical heterogroups within polyoxotungstate subunits to addenda ions. Investigations on the self-assembly conditions, proceeding in a simple one-pot reaction, point to the pH as one critical factor for circumventing this limitation.

1-D Chain Tungstotellurate Hybrids Constructed from Organic-Ligand-Connecting Iron-Lanthanide Heterometal Encapsulated Tetrameric Polyoxotungstate Units

A family of inorganic-organic hybrid one-dimensional (1-D) chain iron-lanthanide (Ln) heterometal encapsulated tungstotellurates [H₂N(CH₃)₂]₈K₂Na₄[Ln₂(Ac)₂(H₂O)₄Fe₂(Hpdca)₂(B-β-TeW₉O₃₃)₂][Ln₂(H₂O)₈Fe₂(Hpdca)₂(B-β-TeW₉O₃₃)₂]·50H₂O [Ln = Eu³⁺ (1), Tb³⁺ (2), Dy³⁺ (3), Er³⁺ (4), HAc = acetate acid, H₂pdca = 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid] were prepared using a facile "one-pot" reaction. The molecular structures of 1-4 consist of an intriguing organic-ligand-connecting Fe-Ln heterometal inserted tetrameric unit [Ln₂(Ac)₂(H₂O)₄Fe₂(Hpdca)₂(B-β-TeW₉O₃₃)₂][Ln₂(H₂O)₈Fe₂(Hpdca)₂(B-β-TeW₉O₃₃)₂]^14-. Appealingly, the tetrameric unit is composed of two sandwich-type subunits [Ln₂(Ac)₂(H₂O)₄Fe₂(Hpdca)₂(B-β-TeW₉O₃₃)₂]^8- and [Ln₂(H₂O)₈Fe₂(Hpdca)₂(B-β-TeW₉O₃₃)₂]^6-, in which each sandwich-type subunit can be regarded as a derivative of two Ln-organic complexes substituting two external Fe^III ions in the classic Krebs-type [Fe₄(H₂O)₁₀(β-TeW₉O₃₃)₂]^4- fragment. Furthermore, adjacent tetrameric units are interconnected into a 1-D chain arrangement by Hpdca^- bridges. 1-4 represent the first examples of Fe-Ln heterometal encapsulated tungstotellurates. Comprehensive magnetic measurements of 3 imply the possible single-molecule magnet properties in 3 with an estimated relaxation time τ₀ ≈ 6.06 × 10^-6 s at H_dc = 0 Oe and τ₀ ≈ 6.97 × 10^-5 s at H_dc = 1500 Oe. In addition, the solid-state photoluminescence spectra of 1 and 2 at room temperature exhibit the typical f-f transitions of Ln cations. The Commission International d'Eclairage (CIE) color coordinates of (0.540 24, 0.442 44) for 1 and (0.428 71, 0.428 30) for 2 along with the correlated color temperatures of 1995 and 3278 K, dominant wavelengths of 586 and 578 nm, and color purities of 95.09% and 57.27% for 1 and 2 are obtained.

Rapid formation of small mixed-valence luminescent silver clusters via cation-coupled electron-transfer in a redox-active porous ionic crystal based on dodecamolybdophosphate

Redox-active porous ionic crystals based on polyoxometalate (POM) were utilized to form and stabilize small mixed-valence luminescent silver clusters via cation-coupled electron-transfer (CCET) reactions. Reduction-induced ion-exchange between Cs+ and Ag+via CCET took less than 1 min to complete and consisted of two steps: electron transfer from reduced POM to Ag+ and the subsequent formation of a silver cluster, and diffusion of the silver cluster and exchange with Cs+. Notably, the simple ion-exchange took more than 24 h. The compound containing the silver cluster showed high affinity toward unsaturated hydrocarbon guests.

Structural Snapshots of Cluster Growth from {U6 } to {U38 } During the Hydrolysis of UCl4

Herein we report the assembly of large uranium(IV) clusters with novel nuclearities and/or shapes from the controlled hydrolysis of UCl₄ in organic solution and in the presence of the benzoate ligands. {U₆ }, {U₁₃ }, {U₁₆ }, {U₂₄ }, {U₃₈ } oxo and oxo/hydroxo clusters were isolated and crystallographically characterized. These structural snapshots indicate that larger clusters are slowly built from the condensation of octahedral {U₆ } building blocks. The uranium/benzoate ligand ratio, the reaction temperature and the presence of base play an important role in determining the structure of the final assembly. Moreover, the isolation of different size cluster {U₆ } (few hours), {U₁₆ } (3 days), {U₂₄ } (21 days) from the same solution in a chosen set of conditions shows that the assembly of uranium oxo clusters in hydrolytic conditions is time dependent.

All-Inorganic Ionic Porous Material Based on Giant Spherical Polyoxometalates Containing Core-Shell K6 @K36 -Water Cage

This work demonstrates that the use of high-negative and high-symmetry lacunary polyoxometalates (POMs) for the clustering of alkali metal ions is a feasible strategy not only for the formation of rare high-nuclearity alkali-metal clusters but also for the construction of new-type all-inorganic ionic porous materials. By the strategy, an unprecedented high-nuclearity K-H₂ O cluster {K₄₂ (H₂ O)₆₀ } with core-shell K₆ @K₃₆ configuration is stabilized by 8 C_3v -symmetry trivacant POMs [GeW₉ O₃₄ ]^10- , forming a novel giant ionic alkali-metal-POM composite cluster {K₄₂ Ge₈ W₇₂ O₂₇₂ (H₂ O)₆₀ } with more than 100 metal centers. The incorporated 42-nuclearity K-H₂ O cluster {K₄₂ (H₂ O)₆₀ } exhibits the highest-nuclearity alkali-metal-water cluster known to date in POM chemistry. Further, the giant {K₄₂ Ge₈ W₇₂ O₂₇₂ (H₂ O)₆₀ } clusters can be linked by another kind of alkali metal ions Na⁺ to generate a fascinating three-dimensional all-inorganic ionic porous framework with high chemical stability, proton conductivity, and water vapor adsorption.

First Dimethyltin-Functionalized Rare-Earth Incorporated Tellurotungstates Consisting of {B-α-TeW7O28} and {W5O18} Mixed Building Units

The facile one-step assembly reaction of Na₂WO₄·2H₂O, Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂, RE(NO₃)₃·6H₂O and K₂TeO₃ in the presence of dimethylamine hydrochloride as an organic solubilizing agent in acidic aqueous solution resulted in a family of dimethyltin-functionalized rare-earth (RE) incorporated tellurotungstates consisting of {B-α-TeW₇O₂₈} and {W₅O₁₈} mixed building units [H₂N(CH₃)₂]₈Na₄H₂[RE₂(OH)(B-α-TeW₇O₂₈)Sn₂(CH₃)₄(W₅O₁₈)]₂·18H₂O [RE = Er^III (1), Yb^III (2), Ho^III (3), Y^III (4)]. The most striking structural characteristic of 1-4 is that they all contain a novel tetrameric S-shaped [RE₂(OH)(B-α-TeW₇O₂₈)Sn₂(CH₃)₄(W₅O₁₈)]₂^14- moiety simultaneously including two pentavacant Keggin [B-α-TeW₇O₂₈]^12- and two monovacant Lindqvist [W₅O₁₈]^6- fragments connected by RE and dimethyltin linkers. To the best of our knowledge, such dimethyltin-functionalized RE-containing tellurotungstates have not been reported before. The visible or NIR solid-state emission spectra of 1 and 3 display the characteristic emission bands arising from Er^III and Ho^III centers. Moreover, various 1-Er/Yb co-doped samples were prepared by controlling different mass ratio of Er(NO₃)₃·6H₂O/Yb(NO₃)·6H₂O in the range of 0.96:0.04-0.02:0.98. In the visible region, the emission intensity of the 1-Er_0.40/Yb_0.60 co-doped sample reaches the maximum at the mass ratio of Er(NO₃)₃·6H₂O/Yb(NO₃)·6H₂O being 0.40:0.60, and this observation is mainly derived from the fact that the Yb³⁺ ions can sensitize the Er³⁺ ions to enhance the emission intensity in the visible region. However, no such phenomenon for the 1-Er/Yb co-doped samples is seen in the NIR region. Besides, the upconversion spectra of the 1-Er/Yb co-doped samples were first observed. In addition, the thermal stabilities of 1-4 were also investigated on the crystalline samples and the thermal decomposition process of 1 has been deeply studied.

Rare-Earth-Incorporated Tellurotungstate Hybrids Functionalized by 2-Picolinic Acid Ligands: Syntheses, Structures, and Properties

A series of organic-inorganic rare-earth-incorporated tellurotungstate hybrids, Na₄[RE₂(H₂O)₄(pica)₂W₂O₅][(RE(H₂O)W₂(Hpica)₂O₄)(B-β-TeW₈O₃₀H₂)₂]₂·38H₂O (RE = La^III (1), Ce^III (2), Nd^III (3), Sm^III (4), Eu^III (5); Hpica = 2-picolinic acid), were prepared via a one-step assembly reaction of Na₂WO₄·2H₂O, RE(NO₃)₃·6H₂O, K₂TeO₃, Hpica, and triethylamine (tea). Notably, the solubilization of tea toward Hpica and the solubilization of Hpica toward RE cations in the reaction system play an important role in the formation of 1-5. The most significant feature of 1-5 consists of an intriguing tetrameric [RE₂(H₂O)₄(pica)₂W₂O₅][(RE(H₂O)W₂(Hpica)₂O₄)(B-β-TeW₈O₃₀H₂)₂]₂^4- polyoxoanion constructed from two tetravacant Keggin sandwich-type [(RE(H₂O)W₂(Hpica)₂O₄)(B-β-TeW₈O₃₀H₂)₂]^5- entities linked by a RE-W-Hpica {RE₂(H₂O)₄(pica)₂W₂O₅}⁶⁺ cluster, in which Hpica ligands not only play a key bridging role in linking RE and W centers by carboxylic groups in an irregular N-O-RE-O-W-O six-membered-ring motif but also can directly chelate with W centers via N and O atoms in a stable N-O-C-O-W five-membered-ring fashion. 1-5 represent rare organic-inorganic hybrid RE-substituted tellurotungstates. Moreover, the solid-state photoluminescence properties of 3-5 have been deeply investigated, and these compounds exhibit the characteristic emission stemming from intra-4f transitions of RE ions. The energy transfer of the O → W transitions sensitizing the emission of Sm^III centers in 4 is convincingly proved by time-resolved emission spectra (TRES); the increase in the strongest typical emission of Sm^III ions at a decay time of 17 μs is accompanied by the decline of O → W emission, and the CIE 1931 diagram was obtained from the corresponding TRES. Furthermore, a comparison of the luminescence behaviors of 5 in the solid state and in solution reveals the structural skeletal integrity of 5 in solution and a shorter decay lifetime in the solution caused by the high-frequency O-H oscillators.

A temperature-resolved assembly of a series of the largest scandium-containing polyoxotungstates

The first series of hexameric scandium-substituted polyoxometalates have been isolated from the same reaction by a temperature-resolved crystallization process, which represent the largest scandium-containing polyoxometalates with the largest number of scandium cations.

The transformation of polyoxometalates in the formation of intercluster compound [Ag41(α-SiW(10)O37)((t)BuC≡C)27(CH3CN)3][β-SiW(12)O40]

We report a unique intercluster compound comprising a Ag41 cage encapsulating a divacant [α-SiW(10)O37](10-) anion and a complete [β-SiW(12)O40](4-) anion as a counteranion. Two electro-redox centers associated with the inner and outer POM anions show interesting electrochemical behaviours, because the stable Ag41 cage acts as an electron transfer mediator.

Acid-Base-Triggered Structural Transformation of a Polyoxometalate Core Inside a Dodecahedrane-like Silver Thiolate Shell

Self-assembly of metavanadate and organosilver(I) salts leads to a novel dodecahedrane-like [Ag30 ((t) BuS)20 ](10+) silver(I) thiolate nanocage that tightly wraps an unusual C2h polyoxovanadate anion. The polyoxovanadate core undergoes transformation to a D3d configuration upon acidification, and reverts back to its original C2h structure upon addition of base. Chromism was observed for the silver(I) thiolate cluster during the configurational change of the central polyoxovanadate core; the color of the solution changes reversibly from green to dark yellow. This work represents the first reported example of chromic polyoxometalate-templated silver(I) thiolate shells that respond to external acid-base stimuli. It also represents an important advance in providing crystallographic proof that structural transformations occur in a nanoscale core-shell cluster.