Experimental and Computational Study of a New Wheel-Shaped {[W5O21]3[(UVIO2)2(μ-O2)]3}30– Polyoxometalate

Computational Study into the Effects of Countercations on the [P8W48O184]40- Polyoxometalate Wheel

Porous metal oxide materials have been obtained from a ring-shaped macrocyclic polyoxometalate (POM) structural building unit, [P8W48O184]40-. This is a tungsten oxide building block with an integrated "pore" of 1 nm in diameter, which, when connected with transition metal linkers, can assemble frameworks across a range of dimensions and which are generally referred to as POMzites. Our investigation proposes to gain a better understanding into the basic chemistry of this POM, specifically local electron densities and locations of countercations within and without the aforementioned pore. Through a rigorous benchmarking process, we discovered that 8 potassium cations, located within the pore, provided us with the most accurate model in terms of mimicking empirical properties to a sufficient degree of accuracy while also requiring a relatively small number of computer cores and hours to successfully complete a calculation. Additionally, we analyzed two other similar POMs from the literature, [As8W48O184]40- and [Se8W48O176]32-, in the hopes of determining whether they could be similarly incorporated into a POMzite network; given their close semblance in terms of local electron densities and interaction with potassium cations, we judge these POMs to be theoretically suitable as POMzite building blocks. Finally, we experimented with substituting different cations into the [P8W48O184]40- pore to observe the effect on pore dimensions and overall reactivity; we observed that the monocationic structures, particularly the Li8[P8W48O184]32- framework, yielded the least polarized structures. This correlates with the literature, validating our methodology for determining general POM characteristics and properties moving forward.

Peroxouranyl-Containing W48 Wheel: Synthesis, Structure, and Detailed Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy Study

We report on the first example of a peroxouranium-containing {P₈W₄₈} wheel, [{(UO₂)₄(O₂)₄}₂(P₈W₄₈O₁₈₄)]^40- (1), which was synthesized by a one-pot reaction of UO₂(NO₃)₂·6H₂O with the 48-tungsto-8-phosphate wheel [H₇P₈W₄₈O₁₈₄]^33- and aqueous hydrogen peroxide in a pH 6 lithium acetate solution at 50 °C. Polyanion 1 comprises two tetrauranyl squares with side-on peroxo bridging ligands in the cavity of the {P₈W₄₈} wheel, and was isolated as the hydrated potassium-lithium salt K₁₈Li₂₂[{(UO₂)₄(O₂)₄}₂(P₈W₄₈O₁₈₄)]·133H₂O (KLi-1), which was characterized in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, as well as thermogravimetric and elemental analyses. A detailed Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy study was also performed.

Performance of group additivity methods for predicting the stability of uranyl complexes

Herein, we investigated the viability of two group additivity methods for predicting Gibbs energies of a set of uranyl complexes. In first place, we proved that both density functional theory (DFT)-based methods and Serezhkin's stereoatomic model provide equivalent answers in terms of stability. Moreover, we proposed a novel methodology based on Mayer's population analysis for estimating Serezhkin's empirical parameters theoretically. On the other hand, we showed that Cheong and Persson linear algebra methodology can be successfully applied to uranyl complexes, and analyzed its performance in connection with the chemical nature of the compounds employed in the model.

Trends and new directions in the crystal chemistry of actinide oxo-clusters incorporated in polyoxometalates

This highlight article reports the synthetic methods, the structural topologies and the behaviour of actinide-polyoxometalate species in aqueous solution.

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.

Synthesis, structural analysis, and supramolecular assembly of a series of in situ generated uranyl–peroxide complexes with functionalized 2,2′-bipyridine and varied carboxylic acid ligands

Presented herein are eight new binuclear uranyl complexes bridged by in situ generated peroxide ligands and assembled via noncovalent interactions.

Dicyanoaurate-based heterobimetallic uranyl coordination polymers

The first series of uranyl ([UO₂]²⁺)-dicyanoaurate coordination polymers and molecular complexes has been synthesized. Reactions of [A][Au(CN)₂] (A = [ⁿBu₄N]⁺ or [(Ph₃P)₂N]⁺ ([PPN])) and uranyl nitrate in alcoholic solvents in ambient light led to [A]₂[(UO₂)₂(μ-η²:η²-O₂)(NO₃)₂(μ-Au(CN)₂)₂], which incorporates peroxo ligands into a one-dimensional ladder topology with alternating aurophilic and peroxo rungs. Conducting the reaction with non-alcoholic solvents formed two polymorphs of a one-dimensional chain, [PPN][UO₂(NO₃)₂Au(CN)₂], from acetone, and a molecular analogue, [PPN]₂[UO₂(NO₃)₂(Au(CN)₂)₂], from acetonitrile, none of which exhibited aurophilic interactions. The addition of 2,2'-bipyridine to the initial reaction resulted in [UO₂(bipy)(MeO)(MeOH)]₂[(μ-Au(CN)₂)(Au(CN)₂)], a one-dimensional structure which propagates via a series of linear aurophilic bonds with pendant uranyl complexes; methanol and methoxy ligands provide additional connections through hydrogen bonding. The addition of 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine using solvothermal conditions resulted in the one-dimensional ladder [UO₂(Me₂bipy)Au(CN)₂]₂[(μ-OH)₂], generated through aurophilic bonds and hydroxide ligands. The incorporation of 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (terpy) using solvothermal conditions resulted in [[UO₂(terpy)]₂(μ-NO₃)(μ-O)][Au(CN)₂], a molecular salt with no aurophilic interactions. Emission spectra attributable to aurophilic interactions are observed in [ⁿBu₄N]₂[(UO₂)₂(μ-η²:η²-O₂)(NO₃)₂(μ-Au(CN)₂)₂], while all others only show emission typical of the uranyl cation.

Ligand size dependence of U–N and U–O bond character in a series of uranyl hexaphyrin complexes: quantum chemical simulation and density based analysis

A quantum chemical and density based analysis of bonding in uranyl hexaphyrin complexes, looking for trends in stability and covalency.

Recent advances in structural studies of heterometallic uranyl-containing coordination polymers and polynuclear closed species

A survey is given of recent original structural results on heterometallic species incorporating uranyl ions, particularly with carboxylate ligands.

Structure and Solution Speciation of U(IV) Linked Phosphomolybdate (Mo(V)) Clusters

Crystals of [NaU(Mo6P4O31H7)2]·5Na·(H2O)n (NaUMo6) have been synthesized by slow evaporation of an aqueous mixture containing uranyl nitrate, sodium molybdate, phosphoric acid, and sodium dithionate. Single crystal diffraction of NaUMo6 reveals the assembly of {Mo6P4} clusters linked into one-dimensional chains with alternating Na(+) and U(4+) cations. To our knowledge, NaUMo6 is a unique example of Mo(5+) based polyoxometalate associated with actinides. With the use of similar synthesis conditions but without uranium in the aqueous solution, [Na(Mo6P4O31H10)2]·5Na·(H2PO4)·(H2O)n (NaMo6) is obtained. NaMo6 is a sandwich type cluster which is built on the assemblage of two {Mo6P4} units linked by one sodium cation. Using small-angle X-ray scattering techniques and aqueous electrolyte based dissolution strategies, we can accurately observe chains of [UNa(Mo6P4O31H7)2]n(5n), where n = 7 is the dominant soluble specie. Likewise, the dimeric form of [Na(Mo6P4O31H10)2](5-) dominates the aqueous solution, revealing the structural units observed in the crystal structure are also stable in solution, under appropriate dissolution conditions.

Hybrid uranyl–vanadium nano-wheels

Uranyl vanadate sulfate clusters isolated from a mixture of water and ionic liquid present a structure intermediate between those typical of transition metal polyoxometalates and uranyl peroxide cage clusters.

Synthesis and oxidation catalysis of a Ti-substituted phosphotungstate, and identification of the active oxygen species

A Ti-substituted phosphotungstate (I) showed high catalytic performance for several oxidation reactions. The truly catalytically active species was successfully isolated, and its anion structure was determined.

The chloridomolybdenum(III) cluster in [BMIm]4[AgMo10Cl35] with infinite chains of Ag(+)-linked [Mo10Cl35](5-) wheels

[BMIm]4[AgMo10Cl35] is prepared by reaction of MoCl5 and elemental silver in the ionic liquid [BMIm][AlCl4] ([BMIm(+)]: 1-butyl-4-methylimidazolium). Surprisingly, elemental silver is oxidized under these conditions. The title compound contains a new wheel-shaped [Mo10Cl35](5-) chlorido molybdenum(iii) species with five pairs of Mo-Mo bonds. The Mo-Mo distances are found to be 263 pm on average. The [Mo10Cl35](5-) wheels exhibit a maximum opening of 558 pm in diameter. They are interlinked via Ag(+) to form infinite [AgMo10Cl35](4-) chains. The title compound is characterized by single crystal structure analysis, EDX, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The wheel-type structure and Ag(+) linkage to infinite chains are a new aspect of halogenido metalates and low-valence molybdenum compounds.