First Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Compounds Formed by Ge-V-O Clusters and Transition Metal Complexes of Aromatic Organic Ligands

Three compounds based on Ge-V-O clusters were hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by IR, UV-Vis, XRD, ESR, elemental analysis and X-ray crystal structural analysis. Both [Cd(phen)(en)]2[Cd2(phen)2V12O40Ge8(OH)8(H2O)]∙12.5H2O (1) and [Cd(DETA)]2[Cd(DETA)2]0.5[Cd2(phen)2V12O41Ge8(OH)7(0.5H2O)]∙7.5H2O (2) (1,10-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, en = ethylenediamine, DETA = diethylenetriamine) are the first Ge-V-O cluster compounds containing aromatic organic ligands. Compound 1 is the first dimer of Ge-V-O clusters, which is linked by a double bridge of two [Cd(phen)(en)]2+. Compound 2 exhibits an unprecedented 1-D chain structure formed by Ge-V-O clusters and [Cd2(DETA)2]4+ transition metal complexes (TMCs). [Cd(en)3]{[Cd(η2-en)2]3[Cd(η2-en)(η2-μ2-en)(η2-en)Cd][Ge6V15O48(H2O)]}∙5.5H2O (3) is a novel 3-D structure which is constructed from [Ge6V15O48(H2O)]12− and four different types of TMCs. We also synthesized [Zn2(enMe)3][Zn(enMe)]2[Zn(enMe)2(H2O)]2[Ge6V15O48(H2O)]∙3H2O (4) and [Cd(en)2]2{H8[Cd(en)]2Ge8V12O48(H2O)}∙6H2O (5) (enMe = 1,2-propanediamine), which have been reported previously. In addition, the catalytic properties of these five compounds for styrene epoxidation have been assessed.

Spodium bonding in five coordinated Zn(ii): a new player in crystal engineering?

This highlight evidences the existence and importance of spodium bonds (SpB) in solid state structures involving five-coordinated square-pyramidal Zn(ii) spodium atom.

Directed Self-Assembly, Symmetry Breaking, and Electronic Modulation of Metal Oxide Clusters by Pyramidal Heteroanions

Mixed valence/metal polyoxometalate (POM) clusters are one of the most interesting host species because they show the ability to incorporate a wide range of heteroatoms of various charges and geometries. We report herein the incorporation of pyramidal EO₃^2- heteroanions (E=PH, S, Se, Te) that are responsible not only for directing the templated assembly of a family of mixed-metal POMs but also for the symmetry-breaking of the traditional Dawson architecture and modulation of the electronic characteristics of the cluster's shell. The isolated family of POMs consists of four members: (Me₂ NH₂ )₅ Na₂ [Mo₁₁ V₇ O₅₂ (HPO₃ )]⋅MeOH⋅5 H₂ O (1), (NH₄ )₇ [Mo₁₁ V₇ O₅₂ (SO₃ )]⋅12 H₂ O (2), K₇ [Mo₁₁ V₇ O₅₂ (SeO₃ )] ⋅31 H₂ O (3), and (Me₂ NH₂ )₆ Na[Mo₁₁ V₇ O₅₂ (TeO₃ )]⋅15 H₂ O (4), and were characterized by X-ray structural analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), UV/Vis, FTIR, elemental analysis, flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic studies in concert with density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations have been used to elucidate the effect of the heteroatom on the electronic properties of the cluster.

Magnetic and luminescence properties of an inorganic 3D nickel–vanadium bimetallic framework

Magnetic and luminescence properties of the first nickel–vanadium inorganic 3D framework with a pair of entangled double helices.

Semimetal-functionalised polyoxovanadates

Polyoxovanadates (POVs), known for their wide applicability and relevance in chemical, physical and biological sciences, are a subclass of polyoxometalates and usually self-assemble in aqueous-phase, pH-controlled condensation reactions. Archetypical POVs such as the robust [VO42](12-) polyoxoanion can be structurally, electronically and magnetically altered by heavier group 14 and 15 elements to afford Si-, Ge-, As- or Sb-decorated POV structures (heteroPOVs). These main-group semimetals introduce specific chemically engineered functionalities which cause the generally hydrophilic heteroPOV compounds to exhibit interesting reactivity towards organic molecules, late transition metal and lanthanoid ions. The fully-oxidised (V(V)), mixed-valent (V(V)/V(IV) and V(IV)/V(III)), "fully-reduced" (V(IV)) and "highly-reduced" (V(III)) heteroPOVs possess a number of intriguing properties, ranging from catalytic to molecular magnet characteristics. Herein, we review key developments in the synthetic and structural chemistry as well as the reactivity of POVs functionalised with Si-, Ge-, As- or Sb-based heterogroups.

Two tetra-Cd(II)-substituted vanadogermanate frameworks

Two new tetra-Cd(II)-substituted vanadogermanate frameworks {(CdX)4Ge8V(IV)10O46(H2O)[V(III)(H2O)2]4(GeO2)4}·8H2O (X = ethylenediamine (en, 1) and 1,2-diaminopropane (dap, 2)) were hydrothermally prepared and characterized by IR spectra, elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Both are isomorphic, and their 3-D frameworks are made up of tetra-Cd(II)-substituted {(CdX)4Ge8V(IV)10O46(H2O)}(12-) fundamental building units interconnected through planar tetra-V(III) [V(III)4O2(H2O)8](8-) clusters and tetrahedral GeO4 bridges. In the unique {(CdX)4Ge8V(IV)10O46(H2O)}(12-) cage, four [Ge2O7] dimers and four CdO4N2 trigonal prisms are alternately concatenated by μ3-O bridges to create a round {Ge8Cd4O28(X)4}(16-) fragment, five VO5 groups are linked by sharing edges to generate a pentanuclear [V5O17] subunit, and then the {Ge8Cd4O28(X)4}(16-) fragment is sandwiched by two V5O17 subunits via sharing O-atoms producing a D4h-symmetric {(CdX)4Ge8V(IV)10O46(H2O)}(12-) cage with a free water molecule located at the center. As we know, both display unprecedented 3-D organic-inorganic hybrid frameworks built up from the largest number of transition-metal-substituted vanadogermanate {(CdX)4Ge8V(IV)10O46}(12-) cluster shells linked by both GeO4 tetrahedra and rare [V(III)4O2(H2O)8](8-) clusters. Magnetic measurements reveal the antiferromagnetic couplings within the magnetic vanadium centers.

High-Dimensional Assembly Depending on Polyoxoanion Templates, Metal Ion Coordination Geometries, and a Flexible Bis(imidazole) Ligand

By introducing the flexible 1,1'-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole) (bbi) ligand into the polyoxovanadate system, five novel polyoxoanion-templated architectures based on [As(8)V(14)O(42)](4-) and [V(16)O(38)Cl](6-) building blocks were obtained: [M(bbi)(2)](2)[As(8)V(14)O(42)(H(2)O)] [M = Co (1), Ni (2), and Zn (3)], [Cu(bbi)](4)[As(8)V(14)O(42)(H(2)O)] (4), and [Cu(bbi)](6)[V(16)O(38)Cl] (5). Compounds 1-3 are isostructural, and they exhibit a binodal (4,6)-connected 2D structure with Schläfli symbol (3(4) x 4(2))(3(4) x 4(4) x 5(4) x 6(3))(2), in which the polyoxoanion induces a closed four-membered circuit of M(4)(bbi)(4). Compound 4 exhibits an interesting 3D framework constructed from tetradentate [As(8)V(14)O(42)](4-) cluster anions and cationic ladderlike double chains. There exists a bigger M(8)(bbi)(6)O(2) circuit in 4. The 3D extended structure of 5 is composed of heptadentate [V(16)O(38)Cl](6-) anions and flexural cationic chains; the latter consists of six Cu(bbi) segments arranged alternately. It presents the largest 24-membered circuit of M(24)(bbi)(24) so far observed made of bbi molecules and transition-metal cations. Investigation of their structural relations shows the important template role of the polyoxoanions and the synergetic interactions among the polyoxoanions, transition-metal ions, and flexible ligand in the assembly process. The magnetic properties of compounds 1-3 were also studied.

Novel Copper-Complex-Substituted Tungstogermanates

Two copper-complex-substituted tungstogermanates [Cu5(2,2'-bpy)6(H2O)][GeW8O31].9H2O, 1, and {[Cu5(2,2'-bpy)5(H2O)][GeW9O34]}2.7H2O, 2 (2,2'-bpy = 2,2'-bipyridyl), have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. X-ray structural analyses show that 1 is a rare tetralacunary Keggin anion of [B-beta-GeW8O31]10- substituted by copper complexes, while dimer 2 consists of two trilacunary [B-alpha-GeW9O34]10- Keggin units bridged by copper complexes. Magnetic measurement for 2 shows the presence of antiferromagnetic interactions within the dinuclear Cu2+ cations.

Hydrothermal Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Two Novel, Hybrid Materials Based on Secondary Transition-Metal-Incorporated Polyoxovanadate Cluster Backbones: [Cd(dien)2]2[(dien)CdAs8V13O41(H2O)]·4H2O and [Cd(en)2]2[(en)2Cd2As8V12O40]

Two new cadmium-substituted polyoxovanadates of [Cd(dien)2]2[(dien)CdAs8V13O41(H2O)].4H2O and [Cd(en)2]2[(en)2Cd2As8V12O40] (2), where dien is diethylenetriamine and en is ethylenediamine, have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, EPR spectra, XRD spectra, TG analyses, magnetic properties, and X-ray crystallography. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that compounds 1 and 2 possess a discrete and 1D structure, respectively. The former contains an inorganic-organic hybrid monocadmium-substituted polyoxovanadate cluster unit that is derived from the well-known {As8V14O42} cluster, whereas the latter is composed of an inorganic-organic hybrid bicadmium-substituted polyoxovanadate cluster unit that is derived from the well-known {As8V12O40} cluster.