Configurational Isomerism in Polyoxovanadates

Configurational Isomerism in Bimetallic Decametalates

In this work, we report on the development of a computational algorithm that explores the configurational isomer space of bimetallic decametalates with general formula MxM10-x'O28q. For x being a natural number in the range of 0 to 10, the algorithm identifies 318 unique configurational isomers. The algorithm is used to generate mixed molybdenum(VI)-vanadium(V) systems MoxV10-xO288- for x=0,1,2, and 3 that are of experimental relevance. The application of the density functional theory (DFT) effectively predicts stability trends that correspond well with empirical observations. In dimolybdenum-substituted decavanadate systems, we discover that a two-electron reduction preferentially stabilizes a configurational isomer due to the formation of metal-metal bonding. The particular polyoxometalate structure is of interest for further experimental studies.

Ce-mediated molecular tailoring on gigantic polyoxometalate {Mo132} into half-closed {Ce11Mo96} for high proton conduction

Precise synthesis of polyoxometalates (POMs) is important for the fundamental understanding of the relationship between the structure and function of each building motif. However, it is a great challenge to realize the atomic-level tailoring of specific sites in POMs without altering the major framework. Herein, we report the case of Ce-mediated molecular tailoring on gigantic {Mo132}, which has a closed structural motif involving a never seen {Mo110} decamer. Such capped wheel {Mo132} undergoes a quasi-isomerism with known {Mo132} ball displaying different optical behaviors. Experiencing an 'Inner-On-Outer' binding process with the substituent of {Mo2} reactive sites in {Mo132}, the site-specific Ce ions drive the dissociation of {Mo2*} clipping sites and finally give rise to a predictable half-closed product {Ce11Mo96}. By virtue of the tailor-made open cavity, the {Ce11Mo96} achieves high proton conduction, nearly two orders of magnitude than that of {Mo132}. This work offers a significant step toward the controllable assembly of POM clusters through a Ce-mediated molecular tailoring process for desirable properties.

Decoration of the [Nb6O19]8– cluster shell with six Cu2+-centred complexes generates the [(Cu(cyclen))6Nb6O19]4+ moiety: room temperature synthesis, crystal structure and selected properties

Mixing an aqueous solution of K8[Nb6O19]⋅16H2O with a DMSO/H2O solution of Cu(ClO4)2 · 6 H2O and cyclen at room temperature afforded crystallization of blue crystals of [(Cu(cyclen))6Nb6O19]⋅[ClO4]4·≈4H2O after slow evaporation of the solvents. The crystal structure contains the Lindqvist anion [Nb6O19]8– which is covalently expanded by six symmetry-related [Cu(cyclen)]2+ complexes via Nb-μ 2-O-Cu bridges yielding the positively charged [(Cu(cyclen))6Nb6O19]4+ cluster shell. The ClO4 − anions and crystal water molecules reside in the empty spaces of the packed clusters. The compound shows two electronic d-d transitions at energetic positions explaining the blue color.

Mechanistic insights into template-driven polyoxovanadate self-assembly: the role of internal and external templates

The self-assembly of molecular metal oxides, polyoxometalates (POMs), can be controlled using internal or, more rarely, external templates. Here, we explore how the interplay between internal templates (halides, oxoanions) and organic external templates (protonated cyclene species) affect the self-assembly of a model polyoxovanadate cluster, [V₁₂O₃₂X]^n- (X = Cl^-, Br^-, NO₃^-). A combination of crystallographic analyses, spectroscopic studies and in situ as well as solid-state ⁵¹V NMR spectroscopy provide critical insights into the initial formation of an intermediate vanadate species formed during the process. Structural and spectroscopic studies suggest that a direct interaction between internal and external templates allows tuning of the internal template position within the cluster cavity. These insights form the basis for further developing the template-driven synthetic chemistry of polyoxovanadates.

Composition-driven archetype dynamics in polyoxovanadates

Molecular metal oxides often adopt common structural frameworks (i.e. archetypes), many of them boasting impressive structural robustness and stability. However, the ability to adapt and to undergo transformations between different structural archetypes is a desirable material design feature offering applicability in different environments. Using systems thinking approach that integrates synthetic, analytical and computational techniques, we explore the transformations governing the chemistry of polyoxovanadates (POVs) constructed of arsenate and vanadate building units. The water-soluble salt of the low nuclearity polyanion [V6As8O26]4- can be effectively used for the synthesis of the larger spherical (i.e. kegginoidal) mixed-valent [V12As8O40]4- precipitate, while the novel [V10As12O40]8- POVs having tubular cyclic structures are another, well soluble product. Surprisingly, in contrast to the common observation that high-nuclearity polyoxometalate (POM) clusters are fragmented to form smaller moieties in solution, the low nuclearity [V6As8O26]4- anion is in situ transformed into the higher nuclearity cluster anions. The obtained products support a conceptually new model that is outlined in this article and that describes a continuous evolution between spherical and cyclic POV assemblies. This new model represents a milestone on the way to rational and designable POV self-assemblies.

Stepwise assembly and reversible structural transformation of ligated titanium coated bismuth-oxo cores: shell morphology engineering for enhanced chemical fixation of CO2

Herein, we report the stepwise assembly and reversible transformation of atomically precise ligated titanium coated bismuth-oxide core nanostructures. The soluble and stable Bi38O45@Ti6-oxo clusters with weakly coordinated surface salicylate ligands were first prepared as precursors. Owing to the high surface reactivity of the Bi38O45 inner core, its shell composition and morphology could be systemically modified by assembly with various Ti ions and auxiliary ligands (L), especially those with different flexibility, bridging ability and steric hindrance. As a result, a series of new core-shell Bi38O44/45@Ti x L-oxo (x = 14, 16, 18 or 20) clusters containing gradually increasing shell Ti atoms were successfully synthesized. Among them, the Bi38Ti20-oxo cluster is the largest one in the family of heterometallic Bi/Ti-oxo clusters to date. In addition, the sensitized titanium outer shell can effectively improve the photocurrent response under visible light irradiation. More remarkably, the obtained core-shell Bi38O44/45@Ti x L-oxo clusters can serve as stable and efficient catalysts for CO2 cycloaddition with epoxides under ambient conditions, whose activity was significantly influenced by the outer ligated titanium shell structure. This work provides a new insight into the construction of atomically precise heterometallic core-shell nanostructures and also an interesting shell engineering strategy for tuning their physicochemical properties.

Three Si-substituted polyoxovanadates as efficient catalysts for Knoevenagel condensation and selective oxidation of styrene to benzaldehyde

Three new Si-substituted polyoxovanadates (POVs), [Cd₂(dien)₂][Cd(dien)][Cd(Hdien)₂][V₁₅Si₆O₄₆(OH)₂(H₂O)]·7H₂O (1), [Co(enMe)₂]₃[Co₂(enMe)₂(H₂O)₂][V₁₆Si₄O₄₄(OH)₂(H₂O)]·6H₂O (2), and [Co(teta)]₄[V₁₆Si₄O₄₂(OH)₄(H₂O)]·10H₂O (3) (dien = diethylenetriamine; enMe = 1,2-diaminopropane; teta = triethylenetetramine) were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and characterized. Structural analysis sheds light on the fact that the {V₁₅Si₆O₄₈}/{V₁₆Si₄O₄₆} clusters of compounds 1-3 were formed by replacing {VO₅} square pyramids in the classical {V₁₈O₄₂} cluster with {Si₂O₇} units. Compound 1 is a 2D bilayer structure formed by the [V₁₅Si₆O₄₆(OH)₂(H₂O)]^10- cluster and two types of bridging Cd complexes containing binuclear groups [Cd₂(dien)₂]⁴⁺. Compound 2 is a 3D framework constructed from the [V₁₆Si₄O₄₄(OH)₂(H₂O)]^10- cluster and two types of Co complex fragments including binuclear [Co₂(enMe)₂(H₂O)₂]⁴⁺. In compound 3, the [V₁₆Si₄O₄₂(OH)₄(H₂O)]^8- cluster is connected with bridging [Co(teta)]²⁺ to expand into a 2D network. Compounds 1 and 3 represent the first 2D assemblies based on a vanadosilicate cluster. 1-3 served as heterogeneous catalysts and exhibited highly efficient catalytic activities for the Knoevenagel condensation under mild ambient conditions with low catalyst loading, featuring the open Lewis base {V₁₅Si₆O₄₈}/{V₁₆Si₄O₄₆} sites and Lewis acid Cd²⁺/Co²⁺ sites. The conversion of benzaldehyde was up to 99.3% in 80 min at room temperature using 1 as a heterogeneous catalyst with only 0.37% catalyst loading. Moreover, compounds 1-3 as catalysts for selective oxidation of styrene to benzaldehyde exhibited excellent catalytic performance, high selectivity and could be readily recycled. Most strikingly, compound 1 showed excellent catalytic performance with 97.6% conversion of styrene and 100% selectivity of benzaldehyde in 15 min. In addition, the catalytic activity of catalyst 1 was well maintained after five cycling reactions.

A General Access Route to High-Nuclearity, Metal-Functionalized Molecular Vanadium Oxides

Molecular metal oxides are key materials in diverse fields like energy storage and conversion, molecular magnetism and as model systems for solid-state metal oxides. To improve their performance and increase the variety of accessible motifs, new synthetic approaches are necessary. Herein, we report a universal, new precursor to access different metal-functionalized polyoxovanadate (POV) clusters. The precursor is synthesized by a novel solid-state thermal treatment procedure. Solution-phase test reactions at room temperature and pressure show that reaction of the precursor with various metal nitrate salts gives access to a range of metal-functionalized POVs. The first nitrate-templated molecular calcium vanadate cluster is reported. We show that this precursor could open new access routes to POV components for molecular magnetism, energy technologies or catalysis.

Synthesis, structure characterization and properties of a new oxidovanadium(IV) coordination polymer incorporating bridging (MoO4)2– and (Mo8O26)4– ligands

Hydrothermal synthesis, crystal structure and properties of a new heterometallic coordination polymer [(VO(terpy))4(MoO4)2(Mo8O26)]·2H2O (1) (terpy = 2,2′;6′,2″-terpyridine) are reported. Compound 1 contains two crystallographically unique vanadium(IV) atoms, bonded to a terminal oxido ligand and further coordinated to a terpy ligand. The three N atoms of terpy occupy the meridional sites of a distorted {VN3O3} octahedron. A γ-octamolybdate (Mo8O26)4– located on an inversion centre and a tetraoxidomolybdate (MoO4)2– function as bridging ligands. The μ3-bridging tridentate binding of (MoO4)2– leads to the formation of a {V4Mo2O12}4+ cationic unit consisting of an eight-membered heterometallic {Mo2V2O4} ring with protruding oxidovanadium handles. A pair of {V4Mo2O12}4+ units are bridged by the centrosymmetric (Mo8O26)4– ligand, resulting in the formation of an infinite chain of alternating {V4Mo2O12}4+ cations and (Mo8O26)4– anions.

Synthesis and structural characterization of a new heterometallicmolybdate coordination polymer based on a µ3-bridging amino alcohol

The reaction of Na2MoO4·2H2O with 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol (LH) in water at room temperature results in the formation of the heterometallic coordination polymer [Mo2O6L2(Na2(H2O)4)]·2H2O 1 (L = 2-amino-3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)propan-1-olato). The structure of 1 consists of a neutral (Mo2O6) unit located on an inversion center. The Mo atoms exhibit hexa-coordination and are bonded to two terminal and two bridging oxido ligands, an alkoxide oxygen and the amine N atoms of an anionic ligand L– resulting in the formation of an edge-sharing {Mo2O8N2} bioctahedron. The Na+ cations of a centrosymmetric bis(μ2-aqua)-bridged (Na2(H2O)4)2+ unit are penta-coordinated and bonded to two symmetry related L– ligands via the oxygen atoms of their OH groups. The µ3-bridging tetradentate binding mode of L– results in the formation of a two-dimensional heterometallic coordination polymer. The constituents of 1 viz. (Mo2O6), (L)–, (Na2(H2O)4)2+ and lattice water molecules are interlinked with the aid of three varieties of hydrogen bonding interactions. The corresponding tungstate reported recently has been obtained through a similar synthetic protocol and is isostructural.

A Bicadmium-Substituted Polyoxometalate Network Based on a Vanadosilicate Cluster for the Selective Oxidation of Styrene to Benzaldehyde

A new bicadmium-substituted vanadosilicate, [Cd(en)₂]₂[(en)₂Cd₂Si₈V₁₂O₄₀(OH)₈(H₂O)_0.5]·5H₂O (1; en = ethylenediamine), had been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized. Structural analysis revealed that the kind of new [(en)₂Cd₂Si₈V₁₂O₄₀(OH)₈(H₂O)_0.5]^4- polyoxoanionic cluster was derived from the classical {V₁₈O₄₂} cluster by replacing six {VO₅} square pyramids with four {Si₂O₇} and two [Cd(en)]²⁺ groups. Notably, such mixed substitution of both main-group and transition metals in polyoxovanadates is much less developed. Furthermore, compound 1 displays efficient catalytic activity toward the selective oxidation of styrene to benzaldehyde with a conversion of 97% and a selectivity of 87% in 8 h.

New pronounced progress in the synthesis of group 5 polyoxometalates

This highlight summarizes new developments made in group 5 polyoxometalate science of high nuclearity clusters with focus on synthetic approaches.

A hexaniobate expanded by six [Hg(cyclam)]2+ complexes via Hg–O bonds yields a positively charged polyoxoniobate cluster

The room temperature reaction of Hg(NO3)2 · H2O, cyclam (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) and K8{Nb6O19} · 16 H2O in a mixture of H2O and DMSO led to crystallization of the novel compound {[Hg(cyclam)]6Nb6O19}(NO3)4 · 14 H2O, which is the first mercury containing polyoxoniobate. The structure consists of a {Nb6O19}8− cluster core which is expanded by six [Hg(cyclam)]2+ complexes via Hg–μ 2-O–Nb bond formation. The title compound contains a positively charged polyoxoniobate cluster. The crystal water molecules form small aggregates by O–H · · · O hydrogen bonding which are joined into larger aggregates by N–O · · · H–O hydrogen bonding integrating the nitrate anions.

Hybrid polyoxometalates as post-functionalization platforms: from fundamentals to emerging applications

Polyoxometalates (POMs) represent an important group of metal-oxo nanoclusters, typically comprised of early transition metals in high oxidation states (mainly V, Mo and W). Many plenary POMs exhibit good pH, solvent, thermal and redox stability, which makes them attractive components for the design of covalently integrated hybrid organic-inorganic molecules, herein referred to as hybrid-POMs. Until now, thousands of organic hybrid-POMs have been reported; however, only a small fraction can be further functionalized using other organic molecules or metal cations. This emerging class of 'post-functionalizable' hybrid-POMs constitute a valuable modular platform that permits coupling of POM properties with different organic and metal cation functionalities, thereby expanding the key physicochemical properties that are relevant for application in (photo)catalysis, bioinorganic chemistry and materials science. The post-functionalizable hybrid-POM platforms offer an opportunity to covalently link multi-electron redox responsive POM cores with virtually any (bio)organic molecule or metal cation, generating a wide range of materials with tailored properties. Over the past few years, these materials have been showcased in the preparation of framework materials, functional surfaces, surfactants, homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts and light harvesting materials, among others. This review article provides an overview on the state of the art in POM post-functionalization and highlights the key design and structural features that permit the discovery of new hybrid-POM platforms. In doing so, we aim to make the subject more comprehensible, both for chemists and for scientists with different materials science backgrounds interested in the applications of hybrid (POM) materials. The review article goes beyond the realms of polyoxometalate chemistry and encompasses emerging research domains such as reticular materials, surfactants, surface functionalization, light harvesting materials, non-linear optics, charge storing materials, and homogeneous acid-base catalysis among others.

Krebs-Type {M2(WO2)2[B-β-SbW9O33]2}n- (M = SbIII, (WO3)) Tungstoantimonate Possessing Unique Pseudo-Seesaw Sb-O Structure

Two new Krebs-type tungstoantimonates (H₂en)₈H₆{[Sb₂(WO₂)₂(B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂][(WO₂)₂(WO₃)₂(B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂]}·22H₂O (1) and (H₂en)₇[(WO₂)₂(WO₃)₂(B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂]·12H₂O (2) were synthesized and characterized. Notably, crystal 1 possesses a specific pseudo-seesaw SbO₄ subunit in the central metal belt of [Sb₂(WO₂)₂(B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂]^12- species, which is rare in reported Krebs-type polyoxometalates. One of the structural features is that there are two kinds of Krebs-type polyanionic clusters in crystal 1 labeled as {(WO₂)₂(WO₃)₂(B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂} (part A) and {Sb₂(WO₂)₂(B-β-SbW₉O₃₃)₂} (part B), respectively. The subunits A and B are alternately connected through Sb-O-W bonds into a chain-like structure of inorganic clusters. Moreover, the catalytic property of crystals 1 and 2 for electron-transfer reaction were investigated by transferring K₃[Fe(CN)₆] into K₄[Fe(CN)₆].

A fully reduced {VIV18O42} host and VO43−, Cl− as guest anions: synthesis, characterization and proton conductivity

Two polyoxovanadate compounds, [Na₇(H₂O)₁₄][H₈VIV18O₄₂(V^VO₄)]·N₂H₄·7H₂O and [Na₅(H₂O)₁₆][H₈VIV18O₄₂(Cl)]·4N₂H₄·6H₂O, each having fully reduced host cage and accommodating eight acidic protons per formula unit, exhibit moderate proton conductivity.

Soluble Hetero-Polyoxovanadates and Their Solution Chemistry Analyzed by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are an intriguing class of compounds due to their tremendous structural variety and the wide spectrum of resulting properties, which make them interesting for applications in fields such as catalysis, material science or nanotechnology. Their ability to form large supramolecular architectures by self-assembly offers an entry to complex, functional systems. After an introduction into the structure and synthesis of POMs of the early transition metals, recently discovered water-soluble antimonato polyoxovanadates (Sb-POVs) and the investigation of their chemical reactivity are discussed. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is presented as an analytical technique suitable to investigate the structure of complex POM assemblies in solution and to probe the underlying reactivity and formation mechanisms. This Minireview highlights the first studies on the soluble Sb-POVs and how the knowledge of their reactivity obtained by ESI-MS has fostered the syntheses of numerous novel Sb-POV compounds.